From acting to activism: unveiling the construction of the distant sufferer: a critical analysis of celebrity advocacy’s representation of the distant sufferer

Abstract

This paper delves into the convergence of racialisation and feminisation within the framework of Celebrity Advocacy (CA) as it relates to the portrayal of distant sufferers. While previous discussions of CA have explored its ties to neocolonialism and the oversimplification of distant suffering, there has been a notable absence of an intersectional examination, particularly in the context of racialisation and feminisation. Therefore, our research question is framed as follows: “In what ways is the distant sufferer represented in celebrity advocacy?” This study hones in on CA and its depiction of distant sufferers in a post-humanitarian context. Employing a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Angelina Jolie's discourse and visual analysis of accompanying images, our findings shed light on the racialisation that occurs under Jolie's and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) white gaze. This representation manifests a white saviour complex and adopts a paternalistic tone. We argue that an intersectional approach is imperative to challenge the portrayal of the distant sufferer as a monolithic figure or simply a “third-world woman”. This paper contributes insights into how CA reconceptualizes those on the move, legitimising hegemonic processes favouring the dominant group.