In the years since the September 11th 2001 attacks, the al-Qaeda phenomenon has become one of the most written about, yet crucially misunderstood, threats of the 21st century. But despite the sheer volume of literature produced during the âwar on terrorâ period, few studies have sought to consider the way this entity has been represented within the news media. The BBC, the War on Terror and the Discursive Construction of Al-Qaeda addresses this significant gap in knowledge by providing an original and much needed assessment of the various strategies used to depict âal-Qaedaâ, and thus make it meaningful for British television audiences. Drawing on the work of French philosopher Michel Foucault, and focusing on Britainâs most watched and trusted news programme, the BBCâs flagship âNews at Tenâ bulletin, the book provides insight into both the visual and verbal nature of these representations and the way they have shifted over the course of a ten-year period, whilealso shedding light upon the broader political and social consequences of the BBCâs portrayals. In doing so, the book not only helps to develop a deeper understanding of the complexity of the BBCâs representations, and their various shifts and transformations, but also details the process through which âal-Qaedaâ has been pieced together from a range of cultural parts. And how, ultimately, the dominant mode of representation used to portray this entity is one that closely resembles Britainâs own, diverse multicultural âselfâ.
