REINTERPRETATION OF THE USA NARRATIVE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC THROUGH GLOBAL TIMES CARTOONS: A STUDY OF CODES AND METAFUNCTIONS

Abstract

The study is conducted to understand the reinterpretation of the USA narrative through political cartoons of Global Times. The study is conducted on the cartoons posed during 2021 in Global Times. A sample of six images is collected and analyzed under the cultural semiotics theory of Yuri Lotman. The theory is based on the reception of the text, choices (metafunctions of the codes) and the comparison of the text and codes. The stretch of the narrative is due to irritational behaviour, which had led both nations towards political rivals in the global stretches. The reception of the text describes that the leadership of the USA tries to prove that China is directly involved in COVID-19 spread while the reports of many laboratories regret it. Although the death rate is too high in the USA, it plays a discursive political role in the world. The whole world is suffering under the pandemic, but the USA plays politics. On the other hand, the metafunctions of the text describe that there are non-responsible actions of the USA and dual policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, its domestic issues are neglected by its officials. Comparatively, the text and codes describe the discursive practices of the USA as it does not understand its core responsibilities rather than plays politics.