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Aesthetic strategic narratives and political artwork: revisiting the Australia-China spat over Wuheqilin’s Peace Force illustration
Sun, Sibei1; Li, Wanrong2
2024-11
Source PublicationPacific Review
ISSN0951-2748
Abstract

This article sheds light on how visual images—particularly non-photographic artwork—can shape international incidents between states. It employs an interpretive framework based on aesthetic theory and strategic narrative to examine the 2020 diplomatic spat between Australia and China over an illustration titled Peace Force by Chinese digital artist Wuheqilin. Peace Force, which depicts an Australian soldier murdering an Afghan child in reference to the Brereton Report, elicited uncharacteristically angry responses from the Australian government. We argue that Australia’s strong response to Peace Force was more than a mere deflection strategy, but instead a collective emotional response by Australian elites to a visually-conveyed narrative threat to Australia’s national identity. Australia’s counter-narrative strategy was not only to contest the Chinese visual narrative’s political message but also the aesthetic essence of the image itself, including the non-photographic visual medium. Based on this case, we suggest that strategic narratives involving political artwork contain both ‘political’ and ‘aesthetic’ layers with equal importance. In addition to providing a detailed account of a particularly notorious incident in Australia-China relations, this article contributes to the broader visual politics and strategic narrative agendas in international relations.

KeywordAesthetics Australia-china Relations Internarrativity Strategic Narrative Visual Politics Wolf Warrior Diplomacy
DOI10.1080/09512748.2024.2434670
URLView the original
Indexed BySSCI
Language英語English
WOS Research AreaArea Studies ; International Relations
WOS SubjectArea Studies ; International Relations
WOS IDWOS:001364533500001
PublisherROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD, 2-4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXON, ENGLAND
Scopus ID2-s2.0-85210497072
Fulltext Access
Citation statistics
Document TypeJournal article
CollectionDEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Corresponding AuthorSun, Sibei
Affiliation1.Department of Government and Public Administration, University of Macau, Macao
2.Department of Communication, University of Macau, Macao
First Author AffilicationUniversity of Macau
Corresponding Author AffilicationUniversity of Macau
Recommended Citation
GB/T 7714
Sun, Sibei,Li, Wanrong. Aesthetic strategic narratives and political artwork: revisiting the Australia-China spat over Wuheqilin’s Peace Force illustration[J]. Pacific Review, 2024.
APA Sun, Sibei., & Li, Wanrong (2024). Aesthetic strategic narratives and political artwork: revisiting the Australia-China spat over Wuheqilin’s Peace Force illustration. Pacific Review.
MLA Sun, Sibei,et al."Aesthetic strategic narratives and political artwork: revisiting the Australia-China spat over Wuheqilin’s Peace Force illustration".Pacific Review (2024).
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