How dare she? : A critical discourse analysis of Greta Thunberg

2020

Master's thesis in Sociology and social work (ME522) This thesis focuses on climate communication and analyses Greta Thunberg’s speeches on climate change. The research concludes that it is the combination of the frames she uses, her rhetorical appeals and who she is that plays a key role in understanding her remarkable success of mobilizing people across the globe. The research identifies five discursive frames. These are the ‘moral prophet frame’, ‘generational justice frame’, ‘power shift frame’. ‘empty rhetoric frame’ and ’scientific frame’. These frames indicate which imaginaries she believes in and appeals to. Climate imaginaries are common understandings, aprioritization of cultural …