Alternative-critical media and the protest paradigm: A visual framing analysis of India's Shaheen Bagh protest

This thesis analyses the visual framing of India's Shaheen Bagh protest by alternative-critical online news media, namely 'The Quint' and 'The Wire,' amidst the backdrop of mainstream media biases and governmental intrusion. Positioned against a political landscape marked by exclusionary policies and hegemonic narratives, the protest at Shaheen Bagh symbolizes a significant resistance led by Muslim women in India. The study delves into whether these alternative media outlets effectively diverge from the 'protest paradigm,' characterized by a tendency by the mainstream media to undermine the legitimacy of protesters and their grievances. Through a qualitative visual analysis, the findings highlight how the employment of subject positioning, behavioural depiction, compositional choices, and the use of colour tones by 'The Quint' and 'The Wire' contribute to humanizing and empowering the protesters, particularly Muslim women, challenging stereotypical norms, and reclaiming public spaces. Symbolic elements such as national flags and cultural performances within the visual narratives underscore the protest's inclusive and democratic ethos, countering divisive narratives and emphasizing solidarity. The study addresses the gap that the visual framing of protest remains underexplored in scholarly research, particularly in the protest discourses of India. It underscores the transformative potential of visual storytelling in shaping public perception and influencing political discourse in contemporary times, offering insights into how alternative-critical media amplify marginalized voices and challenge dominant narratives.