Brazilian-U.S. Communication Forum | Cultural Tropes and Discourse: Brazilians, French, and Americans Debate September 11, 2001

Abstract

The research examines Brazilian, French, and American discourse regarding the events of September 11, 2001. The article illuminates culturally specific constructions of guilt and innocence that emerged in online communities or discourse fora. The fora were hosted by flagship national newspapers in each respective country: O Estado de São Paulo, Le Monde, and The New York Times. The study reveals two parallel overarching scripts regarding culpability for 9/11 that appear across the three cases. However, analysis also illuminates differences in the culturally situated tropes used to determine moral concern in each forum. Together, these two levels of analysis uncover how individuals holding similar opinions may substantiate them in culturally specific ways.