A Multimodal Perspective on Economy-Related Semiotics in Pakistani Print Media: A CDA-Based Study

Graphic satire is one of the important genres of print media and performs a dual function. It comments on existing social issues and encourages the process of opinion formation. This study analyzes economy-related cartoons related to the Pakistan and IMF relationship in particular and related to the problem of dearness in general. The data for the study was collected from Pakistani English newspaper Dawn (daily). The time span for data collection ranges from January 2023 to March 2023. The study employs integrated research to analyze economy-related cartoons at linguistic and semiotic levels. The study employs Kress and van Leeuwen's Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) and Barthes' Semiotic Theory to decode the visual and verbal practices used in the data. The Study reveals that the concept of word-picture conjunction has been used to highlight Pakistan’s dependence on the IMF for her survival. Besides, it contends that dearness-related issues find frequent representation in print media discourses. Furthermore, the study emphasizes on the need for sustainable economic solutions, encouraging policymakers to address the root causes of economic instability instead of depending on foreign aid.