Humor as Soft Power of Kazakhstan: Analysis of National Identity Narratives in Kazakhstani Media

• In Event: Humour and Censorship in Eastern Europe and Eurasia

Abstract

One of the significant inquiries in nation-building studies addresses what force binds people together as a nation. I argue that besides the landscapes or “poetic spaces” (Smith, 1986), humor is a powerful force that significantly contributes to how Kazakhstani people identify and imagine themselves as one nation. This paper explores the ironic self-reflections about Kazakhstani national identity discovered and captured in the diverse digital media realms, including columns of popular Kazakhstani writers, satirical comments by social media users, and popular Kazakhstani Internet memes. Using framing analysis, I will explore how the stories narrated through humor subtly and persuasively reflect and communicate Kazakhstan’s national identity. Specifically, this paper will examine what aspects of the nation’s reality are particularly salient in these unique self-identity renderings. “Salience,” in this context, means humor’s potential power to amplify attention to certain aspects of Kazakhstani actuality, to make them visible, noticeable, and vital.

Author

• Sholpan Kozhamkulova, KIMEP U (Kazakhstan)