The Theatrical Metaphor in Political Discourse (On the Material of the Study of the Migration Crisis in the EU in the British and German Media)

About the authors:

Vadim D. Bachurin, Degree Seeking Applicant, Department of German Philology, Institute of Philology and Journalism, Tyumen State University; magov2@rambler.ru

Dmitriy V. Shapochkin, Cand. Sci. (Philol.), Associate Professor, Department of German Philology, University of Tyumen; d.v.shapochkin@utmn.ru, ORCID: 0000-0003-4954-8256

Abstract:

The problem of migration is one of the key issues in contemporary socio-political life of Europe. Numerous television discussions, radio programs, political debates, and print media actively cover the events related to migration flows of refugees coming to EU countries from North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Migration policies of many European countries are in deep crisis and require extraordinary political decisions. British and German media actively represent it in political discourse, often using such bright expressive means of language, as theatrical metaphor. Therefore, the aim of this article is to study the principles of a theatrical metaphor functioning in the British and German political discourse about the migration crisis in the European Union. Following this goal, the authors reveal two frames by the analysis of the theatrical metaphor in political discourse of the media: “Types of spectacle and genre representation” (slots: “Types of spectacle”, “Genre of submission”); “The public and reception rendered to the play” (slots: “Public”, “Audience”). Exploring the theatrical metaphor in the foreign media as a productive and expressive means of language, the authors also come to believe that it represents the migration crisis as a tragedy and theatrical performance under the harsh reality that reflects the public interest, depth contradictions in opinions and terrifying catastrophic outcome.

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