STRUGGLING THROUGH AFFECT: A MULTIMODAL CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TRUELOVE.IS TESTIMONIES

Abstract

This paper uncovers the homophobic ex-gay ideologies underlying generic and discursive intertextual connections between Truelove.is testimonies, global ex-gay discourse, and various other discourses. Through my multimodal critical discourse analysis (MCDA) approach, I reveal how multimodal and affective discursive strategies are utilised to construct Truelove.is testimonies as individualised, irrefutable personal narratives and obscure the role of Truelove.is’ institutional power in strugglers’ identity formation. The affects pain, love, and shame are deployed as discursive strategies to render Truelove.is’ enticement of strugglers1 opaque - through constructing promises of a liveable life and unconditional love from the Christian community. Consequently, Truelove.is involves strugglers in its political imperatives to create cisheteronormative strugglers out of gradually eliminating LGBTQ identity and existence, and uphold discrimination against LGBTQ people in public policy.