MEDIA IMAGES OF DEPRESSION: TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE, INTERACTION, SELF-EXPERSSION

Abstract

Depression is a common illness worldwide. According to the data of WHO, approximately 280 million people have depression. As a consequence, the illness is present in the media discourse in Germany for years. This paper discusses the strategies different media use to create a specific image of this mental disorder: German mass media, the so called quality media (Der Spiegel) as well as social media (Instagram*). The focus of the analysis is the use of different semiotic codes such as written language, static pictures, and typography in order to create a multimodal image of depression. Methodically, the paper is based on Linguistic Discourse Analysis as it is used in the German Linguistics, whereas the term Discourse is used according to Foucault’s concept. Some aspects of the DIMEAN model by [Spitzmüller, Warnke 2011], for example concerning the metaphor in discourse will be critically discussed. The textual analysis seeks to explore how the individual experiences of people with depression are presented in language and picture. Moreover, the transfer of knowledge in the mass media discourse well be treated. For this reason, the terms expert knowledge and lay knowledge will be reflected. In the context of Social Media, especially on Instagram*, the interaction between the users is in focus of discussion, as well as the use of colours for the strategies of self-expression. Both are relevant for the creation of the specific media image of depression.