The Contemporary Processes of Migration

Structural Analysis of the Emigration Narrative on the Social Documentary (Ne)emigrantai (2004–2023)

Abstract

The portrayal of emigration and emigrants from Lithuania on social documentary television shows is an unexplored topic. In Lithuania, no scientific studies have been conducted that reveal in detail the picture of emigration formed on national television shows dedicated to emigration. This article presents the results of an empirical study on the presentation of emigration on the social documentary (Ne)emigrantai (‘(Not)emigrants’; hereafter referred to as the ‘TV programme’), from 2004 to 2023. Using the concept of a narrative as a set of stories, the study examines what image of emigration from Lithuania from around 2004 to 2023 was created on the TV programme, what characteristics it has and what structure of the emigration narrative it reveals. The empirical research showed that the stories presented on the TV programme about emigration from 2004 to 2023 correspond to the scientific trends of the development of emigration, and their specifics do not change in the different periods of emigration. The shows aired usually emphasise the economic motives for emigration, and other factors of emigration complement the stories. The nature of emigration determines the types of emigrants. Two main character types are mentioned the most on the TV programme: economic migrants, and people looking for happiness. Several emigration directions are accented in the emigrants’ stories. Most people emigrate to economically strong countries that value unskilled manual labour. Analysis of the specific characteristics of the emigration narrative highlighted that the emigration experiences were recognised as successful, but the destination countries were notidealised on the shows aired. The hero’s journey is shown to television viewers realistically and without exaggeration, through the phase of change in the successful overcoming of obstacles. The transformations of the hero’s character are highlighted through the adventure and didactic type of storytelling.