Digital Commons Network^™

Memes, Themes, And Rhetorical Schemes: Analyzing The Themes And Rhetorical Devices Used By Meme Creators In American Political Internet Memes In The First Week Of The Ukrainian-Russian War, Edward B. Zimmerman

Communication Theses

Internet memes carry news messages to mass audiences through social media platforms. In seconds, global events can be transmitted to millions of users in the form of an image with text overlayed. Despite the power of memes, there has been little scholarly research devoted to the selection mechanism of meme-makers. As both audience and creator, meme-makers’ craft and consume messages capable of influence. Grounded in work on rhetorical analysis and framing, this study examined memes posted to conservative and liberal affiliated Reddit communities in the wake of the first days of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. The analysis focused on the themes …

The Bulgarian Horrors Through The Eyes Of An American Journalist: J. A. Macgahan's Role In The Liberation Of Bulgaria From The Ottoman Empire 1876-1878, Miglena Sandmeier

Communication Theses

The thesis examines the role of an American journalist of Irish descent, Januarius MacGahan, who became known as the “Liberator of Bulgaria.” Evidence presented in the thesis substantially restores MacGahan’s role in the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Empire. That accolade was deleted from Bulgarian history by Marxist revisionist historians during the Communist regimes in the 20th Century.

This paper affirms that it was MacGahan’s resolve and passionate outcry against injustice and cruelty he witnessed, that changed the course of European diplomacy and ultimately led to a war that liberated Bulgaria.

Changes In Branding Strategy: A Discourse Analysis Of Nato Publications And Speech Regarding Its Russian Relationship And The Nato-Russia Council, Alexandra Kornilia Sowers

Communication Theses

This thesis studies how NATO has changed the way it brands itself to Russia, from a cooperative and humanitarian stance in 2002 toward a critical and confrontational posture between 2006 and 2008. The study is based on a discourse analysis of NATO’s publications. In the political climate following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO’s NRC established a cooperative relationship with the new Russian Federation, which included offers of humanitarian aid in food and medical care. This study shows that under the NRC, from 2002 to 2006, NATO’s image toward Russia continued to be one of “Strategic Partner.” …