Articulating indigeneity: a discourse analysis of indigenous media collectives in Brazil
2026 (English)Doctoral thesis, monograph (Other academic)
Abstract [en]
This monograph examines discursive constructions of contemporary indigeneity in and through digitalmedia. Relying on the Discourse Ethnographic Approach (DEA) and also inspired by the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA) and digital ethnography, this research identifies how different collective mediainitiatives - Rádio Yandê, APIB, Mídia Indígena, Tybyra and ASCURI developed by Indigenous people inBrazil - articulate their own perspectives about indigeneity. Positioned within the broad field ofcommunication for development and social change, this dissertation underlines the relevance of mediaproduced outside the centres of power. It argues for the importance of Indigenous media production.
The analysis focuses on self-representations produced and circulated by the aforementioned digital mediainitiatives between 2018 and 2022. Furthermore, this study discusses how such initiatives communicateindigeneity to outsiders and to other social movements. The empirical material consists of recordedconversations with Indigenous media producers, fieldnotes of online and on-site observations and digitalmedia material: social media posts, videos and livestreams. In line with DHA, the socio-historical context isemphasised in the analysis. The theoretical framework combines the concept of discourse with the notionsof pan-indigeneity and coloniality.
The analytical procedure applies the concepts of discourse topics and discourse strategies. The researchidentified seven relevant discourse topics: (1) occupying digital media, (2) talking-back, (3) calling foraction, (4) counter-stereotypes, (5) counter memories, (6) environmental justice, and (7) land rights. Thefindings highlight that digital communications are represented as territories by Indigenous producers andthat Indigenous media production is understood as a form of collective resistance. Furthermore, the analysisfound that digital communications are used by Indigenous producers to recontextualise derogatorystereotypes related to indigeneity. Finally, the analysis found that within a discourse of nature protection,Indigenous media and movements have a fruitful arena to articulate their claims for land rights.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Umeå: Umeå University, 2026. , p. 251
Keywords [en]
digital media, indigeneity, Indigenous media, Indigenous journalism, discourse analysis, Brazil
National Category
Media and Communication Studies
Research subject
digital humanities; media and communication studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-252491ISBN: 978-91-6850-031-7 (print)ISBN: 978-91-6850-032-4 (electronic)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-252491DiVA, id: diva2:2055678
Public defence
2026-05-22, Hummelhonung, HUM.D.210, Humanisthuset, Umeå, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
2026-04-302026-04-262026-04-28Bibliographically approved