To Die in Rage. Violence, masculinity and aesthetics in the narrative of ISIS

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to map general themes which the Islamic Sate of Sham (ISIS) presents in its media, both textual and visual, in order to pin down the group’s constitutionalizing narrative. The study focuses on the magazine Dabiq and the short film Although the Disbelievers Dislike it produced by the ISIS media center Alhayat Media. A discussion of the possibilities to prevent further expansion of the ISIS ideology is also conducted. The thesis is based on postmodern theory, gender studies and sociology of emotion, and the study is conducted with the narrative approach to conflict resolution as its primary method. The analysis shows that ISIS is incorporating disparate modern discourses into its narrative, most prominent the islamophobic discourse and the discourse of modern masculinity. ISIS keeps its internal logic going through a balanced emotional regime which allows the group to remain and expand. The study demonstrates how two competing narratives, ISIS and the West’s, can use the same discourses in order to create a strong narrative which individuals can exit or enter into.