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Antarctic representation in print media during the emergence of COVID-19

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Karen A. Alexander Open the ORCID record for Karen A. Alexander[Opens in a new window] ,
Katie Marx ,
Linda Hunt  and
Mengzhu Zhang Open the ORCID record for Mengzhu Zhang[Opens in a new window]
Karen A. Alexander*
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
Katie Marx
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia School of Humanities, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Linda Hunt
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia School of Creative Arts and Media, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
Mengzhu Zhang
Affiliation:
Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
*
karen.alexander@utas.edu.au
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Abstract

Like every other continent in the world, Antarctica has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in an imagined as well as a practical sense. Antarctica is a mediated experience; that is, most of us experience the place through films, novels, music, visual arts and the media. We present an analysis of media articles from eight countries over three time periods - pre-COVID-19 outbreak (October–December 2019), shortly after the pandemic hit the headlines (March–May 2020) and when the virus was established (October–December 2020) - to discover how COVID-19 may have changed Antarctic discourse. Our study shows that representations of Antarctica have been affected by the pandemic, in some instances reinforcing existing ideas and in other cases bringing new ideas to the fore. Based on our findings, we believe that COVID-19 has begun to change representations of Antarctica, stepping us away from the prevailing Antarctic hero narrative and providing a more contemporary understanding of the Antarctic experience. We argue that this may increase our motivation to engage with Antarctic issues, with associated implications for future global stewardship of the region.

Keywords

coronavirusimaginarynewspapersstewardship
Type
Social Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , April 2022 , pp. 180 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antarctic Science Ltd.

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