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Analyzing Narratives of the Tsunami Survivor
When it comes to listening to stories told by others, one can notice that there will always be several versions of the same story. Which one is right? All of the versions can be right, it is just told by different people. Similarly, when it comes to the media, there can be many different accounts told about the same event. In the recent Tsunami that occurred in 2004 in the Indian Ocean, many helpless victims were washed away by the Tsunami phenomenon. Hundreds of thousands of people did not survive; many people fought for their lives like AriAfrizal. This young man had been drifting on a raft in the Indian Ocean for fourteen days. He was able to survive on coconuts and his faith toward God. A cargo ship then rescued Afrizal. AriAfrizal’s remarkable survival story was framed differently by several international media sources including MSNBC, Kazinform and The New Zealand Herald. By examining these three narratives presenting the story of AriAfrizal’s survival, it becomes clear that the journalist of each article evaluates what happened very differently to create identities that will be used to develop a narrative. Each of the three narratives has a specific purpose; to perpetuate the identities of the religious man, the victim, the rescued and thepatriotichero.
SandraSilbersteinexplainsin her article, “From News to Entertainment,” that identities are not stable and that people have many identities which are influenced by stories. Identity is reinforced through narratives as we tell stories about who we are, and who others are, in relation to thepeople and events in our lives. Identities are not rigid, they can be easily shaped since they are based on people’s perceptions of themselves and others. Silberstein also mentions that identities can be made or changed in either a positive or negative way. The way journalists reshape identities is by emphasizing what they want, using different words and choosing specific events to establish identities that viewers can relate to or to provoke emotional reactions from their audience.
One journalist uses spirituality to shape Afrizal’s identity. In the online article run by MSNBC, “Tsunami Survivor Credits Allah,” the journalist presents AriAfrizal’s survival story by using many ofAfrizal’s own words and threading them together with descriptive commentary. The writer includes Afrizal’s thoughts when he was taken over by the Tsunami, “ ‘I thought the world was coming to an end,’ he said. ‘I kept praying hard to Allah for my life’” (MSNBC Par 11). With this quote the journalist emphasizes Afrizal’s faith in Allah and his identity as a Muslim. This identity will connect with readers who have a similar religious identity. By reading the heading, “Tsunami Survivor Credits Allah,” and the entire article, it is evident that this writer focuses more on Afrizal’s God and how Allah saved him. Silberstein claims that when news is being used as entertainment the reporter will, “focus on the entertainment aspects of the experience: feelings and emotions” (649). The journalist highlights aspects of the story, such as spirituality, to connect with the readers and keep their attention. The journalist constructs Afrizal’s identity as the passionately spiritual Muslim who experienced the grace of Allah during the crisis. Even though this journalist uses mostly Afrizal’s words, when the journalist comments he uses several descriptive words and making a simile for how the days looked when Afrizal was drifting in the ocean. He writes, “the sea looked like it was sprinkled with chopped leaves of gold, shimmering in the sun’s glow. Ari had never seen a more wondrous sight” (MSNBC Par 2). The journalist’s words emphasize Afrizal’s faith and the surroundings seem to portray Allah’s promise to save Afrizal’s life assuring him that he was not alone. The adjectives used help create a picture, and give the reader an emotional connection to the gorgeous sight. The journalist also spells out sound effects, such as when Afrizal was rescued, “…the ship slowed down, came around and sounded the Klaxon three times: Poom! Poom! Poom!’ ” (MSNBC Par 36). This explains the type of sound a Klaxon makes. Spelling out the sound effects helps the reader picture what was happening when the ship was looming over Afrizal.The ship is shown as a divine messenger from Allah that resembles Allah’s power, strength and promise of safety.These repeated sound effects emphasize the emotion of fear mixed with relief from surviving a crisis and being rescued by a greater power. It also paints a vivid image of Afrizal’s rescue, making the moment more exciting to the reader.
A second article run by Kazinform, “ ‘I Almost Gave Up Hope,’says Tsunami Survivor Rescued at Sea”does not mention anything about Afrizal’s God, but claims Afrizal survived, “merely on coconut flesh and water, and hope”(Kazinform Par 2). The writer of this online article is less dramatic. This journalistmentions hope but does not directly bring up religion or the word God. The journalist of this article focuses mainly on the facts, statistics and data, “Ari Afrizal was picked up by Arab-based container ship Al-Yamamah which was headed to West Port after its last stopover in Muscat, Oman”(Kazinform Par 5). The news story does not expand on the drama by using descriptive words. Yet if it was not for the captain who saved him he would have probably died which emphasizes the victim’s role as powerless in the face of tragedy and that personal perseverance is the key to survival. Throughout the article there was only one quote from Afrizal and the journalist summarized the rest of the story.This makes Afrizal look like a victim, not only because of the Tsunami but also because he is denied the opportunity to tell his own story.Instead of making the readersidentify with Afrizal, this victim identity, created by the journalist, provokes pity from them. The one quote that was given by Afrizal and chosen by the journalist makes Afrizal look like a helpless victim, “ ‘I gave up all the hope of living.’‘For three days, I did not eat or drink...however, I am so thankful that I have been rescued’ ” (Kazinform Par 4). This quote refers to Afrizal giving up hope and food. These words make it seem as if Afrizal did not try to save himself in any way, but just waited to be rescued. The journalist makes the reader feel like Afrizal had lost hope but gets it back when he was saved.
In addition to the creation of an identity as a victim, other character traits can also serve a journalist’s purpose. The journalist of the third online news articlerun by The New Zealand Herald,“Kiwi Captain Rescues ‘Last Survivor,’” focuses on the New Zealand citizen who rescued Afrizal. The journalist begins the article by giving the reader information about Afrizal’s rescuer, “John Kennedy, 62, captain of the German- owned Al Yamamah container ship, helped on Sunday to rescue Ari Afrizal” (The New Zealand Herald Par 2). As SandraSilberstein writes, “…identities are displayed and thereby (re)constructed through interactions with others.” (637). This explains how people are represented with one identity by their relationships, which can change. For example the journalistconstructed identities for the captain and Afrizal in relationship to each other. The captain is shown as a hero and the construction worker, Afrizal, as a helpless victim. The journalist mentions the “kiwi captain” to bring out patriotism inNew Zealand readers who will connect with the captain’s identity.The journalist of this article mainly includes the captain’s own words on how the whole rescue happened and only two quotes from Afrizal. In one he talks about his rescue, “‘I thought the ship had left the area and I sat down and cried. But the ship returned and cheered me up,’ he said. ‘I then waved at them as I knew I was safe’” (The New Zealand Herald Par 17 and 18). Afrizal reveals his uncontrolled emotions as he saw the cargo ship. The writer’s purpose is to make the captain into a hero representing New Zealandand to make Afrizal into a grateful survivor who has been rescued. Readers will react with admiration for the hero and relief over Afrizal’s rescue.
In closing, all of these international online newspapers, MSNBC, Kazinform and The New Zealand Herald,reportedAfrizal’s survival story; and each version was framed differently, depending on the journalist’s purpose. The stories told by the journalistsare the same in accuracy; there is not one more correct than another. As KathrynWoodward writes in, “Identity and Difference,” “Identities are given meaning through the language and symbolic systems through which they are represented” (8).Writers construct an identity by the style and inference of their word choices. It is good for a reader to check their sources when reading the news and to question the motives behind the writers telling the stories the way they do. Journalists may reshape the identities of the people in their news stories for several reasons; to form a connection with certain readersin order to hold their attention, to make a story more convincing or to direct the focus of their narrative.
Work Cited
“ ‘I Almost Gave Up Hope,’ Says Tsunami Survivor Rescued at Sea.” Kazinform. 11 Jan. 2005.National Company Kazakh Information Agency. 21 Jan. 2005. <
“Kiwi Captain Rescues ‘Last Survivor’.” The New Zealand Herald. 12 Jan. 2005. 21 Jan 2005.<
Silberstein, Sandra. “From News to Entertainment: Eyewitness Accounts.” Reading Context.Ed.Gail Stygall.Australia: ThomasWadsworth,2005.637-654.
“Tsunami Survivor Credits Allah.” MSNBC.11 Jan.2005. 20 Jan.2005. <
Woodward, Kathryn. Identity and Difference. London: Sage, 1997.