Beyond the Tobe : A Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis of Online Coverage of Kandakat in the Sudanese Revolution

This thesis investigates the role of sartorial politics, visual arts, and social media in the Sudanese revolution by examining the photograph of Alaa Salah, also known as “Kandaka” as a case study. The study analyzes how the photograph was translated, reproduced, and curated across various media channels. Using Machin and Mayr's modal of MCDA, this research examines the relationship between visual representation and power dynamics, with a focus on the portrayal and dissemination of Kandaka's photograph during the revolution. By conducting semiotic analysis, including the analysis of words and images, and social actor and transitivity analysis, this thesis aims to explore the influence of visual representation on public discourse. It addresses the online circulation of the image, the relationship between power dynamics and translation, and the significance of visual aspects in forming women's identities and power relations during the revolution. By analyzing the lexical and visual choices in the selected works, this thesis highlights the importance of visual representations and lexical choices in conveying various meanings and ideologies and their power in shaping the discourse in revolutionary movements.