Research Article

Representasyon ng piling editoryal karton sa panahon ng pandemya: Isang eco-critical discourse analysis

Author:
Arnel T. Noval
College of Arts and Sciences, Departamento ng Filipino at Ibang mga Wika, Cebu Technological University – Main Campus, Cebu City, Philippines

ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the discourse of the selected editorial cartoons during the pandemic as part of the ecological discourse. It also ensures to analyze the semiotic features of the editorial cartoons, which are an effective component in conveying the discourse related to environmental and societal issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized eco-critical discourse analysis to analyze the semiotic features of five selected editorial cartoons according to the situation, language, semiotic strategies, target, logical mechanism, and script opposition, which were used to interpret the intentional and unintentional messages they convey. The study revealed that the leading ecological discourse found in the selected editorial cartoons was related to the outbreak caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the reckless cutting of trees, which resulted in flooding in the country. The pandemic has revealed other social issues that the country is facing, such as low wages for nurses, uncertain implementation of government-sponsored and high electricity bills, conveyed in the intentional messages in the written texts and the unintentional messages in the drawings and characters’ facial expressions in the cartoons. In conclusion, the semiotic features, including linguistic, semiotic, and visual tools, along with other verbal and non-verbal aspects, help impart the message that the cartoonist wants to convey. This only proves that the use of sarcasm and humorous facial expressions of the characters in the editorial cartoons are effective tools in unveiling the environmental discourse and issues faced by society during the pandemic. The study recommends conducting more comprehensive research on the discourse of editorial cartoons in each region of the country using eco-critical discourse analysis, ecolinguistics, green studies, and other approaches to promote the conservation and preservation of nature.

Keywords: caricature, editorial, ecological discourse, meaning, semiotic features, visual metaphor

^{Available Online: 21 February 2025}

How to Cite:
Noval AT. 2025. Representasyon ng piling editoryal karton sa panahon ng pandemya: Isang eco-critical discourse analysis. The Palawan Scientist, 17(1): 97-113. https://doi.org/10.69721/TPS.J.2025.17.1.10

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