Critical metaphor analysis of citizenship education discourse

Abstract

Drawing upon critical public relations literature, this article calls for public relations research to critically examine the content in national narratives as the precursor to reconstructing a more tenable discourse on nation building and national interests. In the culture-centred approach, a deconstruction of the dominant discourse is the initial step to opening the space for participation. In line with the culture-centred approach, I conducted a critical metaphor analysis on 58 speeches delivered by Singapore government leaders on the necessity of national education for national survival. The analysis reveals eight metaphoric themes: CONTAINER, with BUILDING as a subset of that theme, JOURNEY, REMEMBERING, SEEING, MORALITY, CULTIVATION and LABOUR. This article discusses the four most salient themes of CONTAINER, BUILDING, REMEMBERING and MORALITY. Locating these themes in the socio-political context of a semi-authoritarian democracy reveals the ideational preoccupations of the government as the agent-organisation seeking to preserve its hegemonic leadership. The research highlights the usefulness of critical metaphor analysis for critical culture public relations practitioners and researchers in uncovering the propositions and agenda latent in naturalised discourse pervading a society.