| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this Master’s thesis is, utilizing the principles and tools of the semiotic analysis, to analyse the natural/artificial opposition in the discourse on genetically modified organisms (hereinafter GMO). The research question of this thesis is: to what extent as well as how the natural/artificial opposition is present in contemporary genetic texts. The object of the research: Lithuanian course books for genetics specialists at colleges and universities, particularly: the parts describing the production of GMO. As a supplementary source, media texts are analysed. A secondary aim is the attempt to utilize the semiotic method analysing the science discourse, as well as determine how productive it is being applied to the selected object, how it helps to identify deeper meanings of the discourse, finally – what obstacles are encountered utilizing the mentioned method. The selected method: semiotic discourse analysis. The conducted analysis of the genetic texts revealed how the meaning of the opposition is constructed, as well as question the limit between a natural and an artificially produced organism. The thesis consists of two major parts. In the first, theoretical part, the opposition natural/artificial in the humanities discourse is discussed. Furthermore, a genetic perspective is introduced – the basis as well as procedures of the production of GMO are briefly introduced. In the second, practical part, the science discourse is analyzed semiotically, and the media discourse is analyzed sociosemiotically. The conducted semiotic analysis has revealed that the natural/artificial opposition, present in the Western tradition, is not productive in the case of GMO, as it is impossible to state whether GMOs are natural or artificial. The sociosemiotic analysis has revealed that people are afraid of GMOs because of two major reasons: the identity of GMO is not clear (they are neither natural nor artificial), as well as they are associated with potential threats, which are opposed to the common order. This thesis might be relevant and useful in terms of further research in the field of humanities and social sciences, as it has expanded the research of GMOs. What is more, the thesis demonstrates the efficiency of the semiotic analysis, being applied to the science discourse. |
