The Use of Metaphor in Defining the Pandemic Phenomenon
Résumé
Although pandemics are perceived as scientific and technical
problems, their multi-layered political implications trigger an ideology-
laden debate. In this paper, we argue that in the face of the upheavals
caused by Covid-19, a considerable part of the political and media
systems has used narratives rooted in neo-nationalist and neo-liberal
ideologies. On the one hand, neo-nationalism is visible through the
portrayal of stereotypical « others » in mainstream media. On the
other hand, the health emergency has tested and will continue to test
institutions and their ability to find and implement solutions that minimise
harm without restricting individual freedoms. Those entrusted with the
institutional and political responsibility to inform the public once again
communicated on the event using the primal rhetorical figures. First in
China, then in Italy and Europe, and finally throughout the world,
politicians, journalists, doctors, economists and opinion leaders have
defined the health emergency as “war”. The metaphor of war has been
used and abused from the beginning, and the first and most vocal
disseminators of the term « war » and its associated concepts have
been politicians. This paper proposes an extension of the concept of Orientalism as a possible key to understanding the construction of stereotypical representations of Covid-19 as the ‘enemy’ and the pandemic
as ‘war’ during the lockdown. Furthermore, it is argued that political
positions and conflicts over pandemic measures are not random and
nor do they depend on the idiosyncrasy of individuals. Rather, they
represent certain material interests and socio-cultural and ideological
backgrounds.