From My Land and My People to Freedom in Exile: Imagery by the Dalai Lama in his Autobiographies

The two autobiographies of the Dalai Lama contain a wide range of descriptions, visualizations and judgments about Tibet and Tibetans, the PRC and Chinese and others. Members of different groups come to judgments and valorize the other depending on their own point of view. According to researchers, Tibetan exile leaders have deliberately adopted and adapted images, including pre-1959 images that existed in the West, to entice public support for the Tibetan cause, yet there is little research into the use of images by the Dalai Lama. Using discourse analysis I will examine how the Dalai Lama uses images in My Land and My People and Freedom in Exile and argue that images such as myths, clichés and Western stereotypes are used to emphasize the uniqueness, victimhood and respectfulness of Tibet and Tibetans, whereas he uses negative images to describe the PRC and the Chinese. Analysis of the results confirms earlier research that people make use of preconceived images when describing...Show moreThe two autobiographies of the Dalai Lama contain a wide range of descriptions, visualizations and judgments about Tibet and Tibetans, the PRC and Chinese and others. Members of different groups come to judgments and valorize the other depending on their own point of view. According to researchers, Tibetan exile leaders have deliberately adopted and adapted images, including pre-1959 images that existed in the West, to entice public support for the Tibetan cause, yet there is little research into the use of images by the Dalai Lama. Using discourse analysis I will examine how the Dalai Lama uses images in My Land and My People and Freedom in Exile and argue that images such as myths, clichés and Western stereotypes are used to emphasize the uniqueness, victimhood and respectfulness of Tibet and Tibetans, whereas he uses negative images to describe the PRC and the Chinese. Analysis of the results confirms earlier research that people make use of preconceived images when describing others, while the Dalai Lama’s words are indeed beneficial to Tibetans and could in that way have convinced people for supporting the Tibetan cause. Broader research into his actions, as well as into his other work could provide more clarity in this, while research into his work and public performance meant for a Tibetan audience could give an idea whether he uses different imagery when describing the other and the self than in work catering to an international audience.Show less

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From My Land and My People to Freedom in Exile: Imagery by the Dalai Lama in his Autobiographies