Language, Power and Resilience: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Patty Dan’s Department of English Language and Literature

Abstract

This study critically examines the construction of dominance and resistance in the animated Netflix series Mermaids Magic (2024) characters Mermaids and Barbarossa from the episode - A volcanic Adventure‖ through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), by using Teun A. van Dijk ‘s socio-cognitive model. It is based on the premise that fictional and mythological narratives are ideologically neutral and work as cultural sites where power relations and ideological meanings are produced, negotiated, and naturalized through language. The research adopts a qualitative design and applies close textual analysis to selected dialogues and narrative sequences. Purposive sampling is used to identify instances where discourse reflects ideological positioning of authority and opposition. The theoretical framework of Van Dijk ‘s socio-cognitive approach, emphasizing the relationship between discourse, cognition, and ideology. Findings indicate that the character Barbarossa constructs dominance through directive speech acts, assertive lexical choices, and hierarchical framing that legitimizes authority and control. In contrast, the Mermaids construct resistance through collective identity, solidarity-based discourse, and counter-ideological narratives that challenge hegemonic power structures. These opposing discourses reveal systematic ideological polarization within the narrative. The study further shows that mythological and fantasy elements function that both naturalize and contest power relations. Through lexical selection, narrative positioning, and symbolic representation, the text shapes mental models that influence audience perceptions of authority, legitimacy, and resistance. The study concludes that Mermaids and Barbarossa have a discursive space of resilience where dominance and resistance are continuously constructed and negotiated. It contributes to CDA research study by extending socio-cognitive analysis to animated fantasy discourse and highlights the ideological significance of popular myth-based narratives in shaping social cognition.