A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of American Born Chinese (2006) and March (2013)

Abstract

This study attempts to conduct a multimodal discourse analysis of American Born Chinese (2006), a graphic novel by Gene Yang and March (2013), a graphic novel by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell, by applying Michael Halliday’s theory of the Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) (1994) for the written texts, namely the experiential (ideational) metafunction, and Gunther Kress and Theo van Leeuwen’s Systemic Functional Multimodal Discourse Analysis (SF-MDA) (1996) for the drawn images. The study employs, as well, Teun A. van Dijk’s modal of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) (2004a), in which power, racism, dominant groups, and dominated groups are being analyzed. In American Born Chinese (2006), the study aims at showing the tendency of the American Chinese to leave their Chinese identity behind and be fully Americans, based on an inner belief that the Americans are superior to them; however, the study shows that the Chinese Americans are stronger when they keep their identities and are very weak when they abandon their identity. In March (2013), the study examines the inequality the Black Americans previously suffered in America, the land of freedom, and how this suffering is depicted through graphic novels for historical documentation. The study shows that the White considered themselves the dominant group, whereas the Black Americans are treated as slaves; however, the study shows that the Black Americans are the dominant group with their perseverance and their peaceful attitude.