Multi-modal Discourse Analysis of National Image Construction in the Documentary Human World

Abstract

With the development of the times, the world pattern is constantly changing. For a country to develop well, it should not only improve its own comprehensive strength, but also build a good national image. Since the outbreak of the epidemic, some rumors and public opinion at home and abroad have seriously damaged China's national image. As a result, Chinese state media have launched a series of documentaries on the fight against the epidemic, which truly record the correct attitude of Chinese leaders towards the epidemic and the determination of frontline medical workers to fight the epidemic. This has not only provided a satisfactory answer to domestic diplomacy, but also demonstrated to the world a responsible and capable image of China. This paper selects the "human world" documentary as the research object, using quantitative and qualitative methods to explore how Chinese state media can build and maintain China's national image through documentaries. Based on the theory of system functional language and the framework of multi-modal discourse analysis, this paper found that the documentary presents the facts in the fight against COVID-19 and shapes the characters in the anti-epidemic through images. And through the relationship between text and text, with vivid narrative language and pictures to build a united, responsible, people supreme Chinese image.