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RESEARCH PRODUCT
On the Origin of Metaphors
Martí Domínguezsubject
LiteratureLinguistics and LanguageMetaphorbusiness.industryCommunicationPhilosophyCartoonistmedia_common.quotation_subjectExperimental and Cognitive Psychologymedia_common.cataloged_instanceWestern culturebusinessPencil (mathematics)Freedom of expressionmedia_commondescription
In this article I study the genesis of metaphors from an evolutionary perspective. Analyzing 414 cartoons published after the death of the cartoonists of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, I propose a metaphoric founder effect with the metaphors “PENCIL IS A WEAPON,” “PENCIL IS A CARTOONIST,” and “PENCIL IS FREEDOM,” and a subsequent metaphor drift that creates many related metaphors. Additionally, the success of these metaphors turns the pencil meme into a very efficient and fast-spreading item representing not only the work of cartoonists, but also the fundamental values of Western culture, such as freedom of expression.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-03 | Metaphor and Symbol |