Some People Need Killing: Power of Metaphors in Shaping and Challenging Political and Educational Realities

• Main Author: Lorenzana, Rebecca Cyrene J
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2024
• Subjects: critical metaphor analysis; war on drugs; hegemonic structures; academic freedom; student activism; Discourse and Text Linguistics; Politics and Social Change
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/jeal/vol3/iss2/6; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/jeal/article/1112/viewcontent/5_lorenzana_ok.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study examines the significant role of metaphors in shaping and challenging political and educational discourse, focusing on the narratives from Patricia Evangelista's Some People Need Killing. Through Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA), the research dissects how metaphors of war and criminality, dehumanization, salvation, and resistance function within the context of Rodrigo Duterte's War on Drugs in the Philippines. The study reveals that metaphors are not merely rhetorical devices but powerful tools that construct and perpetuate hegemonic structures, legitimizing state-sanctioned violence and dehumanizing individuals involved in drug-related activities. Conversely, metaphors of salvation and resistance offer alternative narratives that challenge these power dynamics, emphasizing moral and ethical reconsiderations. The research underscores the pedagogical implications for teaching academic freedom and fostering student activism, highlighting the critical role of educators in cultivating a critical consciousness among students. By engaging with metaphorical language, educators can empower students to discern and contest the hegemonic narratives that shape their realities. This study contributes to a broader discourse on language, power, and education, advocating for a critical engagement with metaphorical language to navigate and challenge complex power dynamics in society. Ultimately, the findings suggest that a deeper understanding of metaphors can enhance the ability to critically engage with and alter entrenched power structures, promoting a more just and equitable society. Keywords: Critical Metaphor Analysis, War on Drugs, hegemonic structures, academic freedom, student activism