Visual representation of COVID-19 in Children‘s Literature: A Semiotic Analysis

Abstract

The massive spread of Coronavirus has badly affected the entire globe and lives of the people irrespective of age or gender. Children in this regard are no exemption. They are affected not only physically but also emotionally and mentally due to the virus and quarantine period. This study aims to provide a semiotic analysis of the visual representations of Covid-19 in the children’s book covers selected on a global level. These covers are new emerging literature and serve to narrate a global discourse related to COVID-19. The researchers have followed the qualitative approach and the data have been collected using purposive sampling technique to provide a holistic interpretation of the selected covers. Framework, selected for the study, is ‘Semiotic Analysis’ by Kress and van Leeuwen (2006). The findings revealed that the participants’ actions and overall circumstances in these covers are highly meaningful. The action narrative and colorful illustrations aim to motivate the young audience in a positive manner. Furthermore, they communicate a message of hope and urge them to fight against the virus. The visuals in these covers are therefore quite significant in their meanings and interpretations.

Exploration of the Sufferings of Refugee Children: A Semiotic Study of Picture Books

“…They conducted qualitative research to examine the cross-cultural narratives in such type of literature and the results showed that cyber literature developed for children carries so many cross-cultural narratives about Chinese New Year celebrations, Korean style haircuts, night markets, and English Divaphali celebrations that not only affect the children's literary fiction but also leave an impact on actual reality. Tufail, Khan, and Qureshi (2021) explored the visual representation of Covid 19 in children's literature through the lens of the semiotic approach devised by Kress and Leeuwen (2006). Meanwhile, the researcher applied the qualitative method, and the data was gathered by using the purposive sampling technique to make sure the holistic interpretation of selected covers.…”