The semiotics of anti-corruption protest in Malta and its representation in photography

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the semiotics of the ongoing anti-corruption protest in Malta and its representation in photography, two interrelated areas on which no literature seemed to have been written. Besides filling this gap in research, the aim of the study is to encourage more anti-corruption conversation in everyday communication, as well as a critical appreciation of cultural semiotics and representation at play in protest, and in social behaviour and media texts in general. The research adopts a qualitative methodology since this allows the flexible collection of rich data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a member of an activist group, an anthropologist, a photojournalist, and a news editor. These interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. To build on the discussion, a semiotic analysis of three published photographs taken at demonstrations then followed. In sum, although the anti-corruption protest in Malta was found to be very striking semiotically, it should be noted that it goes beyond the symbolic level. Persistence and humanisation are essential elements in the protest. Its semiotics, however, are particularly a result of Maltese cultural symbols and the need to engage and maintain engagement of the public. Its representation in photography, as with all photography, is influenced by inevitable subjectivity, and in a news context is shaped by the need to stand out and to produce different photographs to keep people interested. The interviews also revealed the various levels of selectivity present in the news context. It was concluded that photography in itself is a powerful form of activism that anyone can adopt.