Bolsonaro laughed at it, and so did I: sarcasm as bonding rhetoric in online conversations about cutbacks in education

In light of deliberative theory and based on the concepts of bonding rhetoric and bridging rhetoric (Dryzek, 2010), this article aims to investigate how sarcasm was employed in online conversations on Facebook and YouTube regarding budgetary cutbacks in education made in 2019 by the Ministry of Education (MEC). Sarcasm was the most used argumentative device and was often associated with insults, contributing to a polarized discussion. Sarcastic comments also had low rates of justification, were predominantly declaratory, and largely had a generic or specific target, generating reaction and conflict while strengthening a bond with those who understood the sarcastic meaning behind the message and agreed with the subject who employed it.

Keywords
Online conversation; Deliberation; Rhetoric; Sarcasm; Social Media

Authorship

Carla Candida Rizzotto

coordinating the project

conceptualizing the research

methodological construction

production and analysis of data

writing of the manuscript

(Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Artes, Comunicação e Design, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação. Curitiba - PR, Brazil).(Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Artes, Comunicação e Design, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação. Curitiba - PR, Brazil).(Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Artes, Comunicação e Design, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação. Curitiba - PR, Brazil).

Carla Candida Rizzotto Ph.D. in Communication and Languages from the Tuiuti University of Paraná. Professor and Researcher at the Department of Communication and the Graduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Coordinator of the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: carla_rizzotto@yahoo.com.br.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0847-4660

Luciane Leopoldo Belin

methodological construction

production and analysis of data

writing of the manuscript

Luciane Leopoldo Belin Ph.D. candidate at the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) with an exchange period at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCUYO) in Argentina. Master in Communication from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: lucianebelin@gmail.com.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2909-7638

Nilton Cesar Monastier Kleina

methodological construction

production and analysis of data

writing of the manuscript

Nilton Cesar Monastier Kleina Ph.D. candidate at the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Substitute Professor of Corporate Communication at the Professional and Technical Education Sector (SEPT) of UFPR. Master in Communication from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: nckleina@gmail.com.

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9378-6441

Camilla de Azevedo Pinheiro Hoshino

methodological construction

production and analysis of data

writing of the manuscript

Camilla de Azevedo Pinheiro Hoshino Master in communication from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and journalist. Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: hoshino.camilla@gmail.com.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3106-0359

Vitor Adriano Liebel

methodological construction

production and analysis of data

writing of the manuscript

Vitor Adriano Liebel Master in Communication from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Graduate degree in Translation Studies (English and Portuguese) from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: liebel.vitor@gmail.com.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7789-1265

Carla Candida Rizzotto

Ph.D. in Communication and Languages from the Tuiuti University of Paraná. Professor and Researcher at the Department of Communication and the Graduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Coordinator of the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: carla_rizzotto@yahoo.com.br.

Luciane Leopoldo Belin

Ph.D. candidate at the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) with an exchange period at the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNCUYO) in Argentina. Master in Communication from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: lucianebelin@gmail.com.

Nilton Cesar Monastier Kleina

Ph.D. candidate at the Postgraduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Substitute Professor of Corporate Communication at the Professional and Technical Education Sector (SEPT) of UFPR. Master in Communication from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: nckleina@gmail.com.

Camilla de Azevedo Pinheiro Hoshino

Master in communication from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) and journalist. Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: hoshino.camilla@gmail.com.

Vitor Adriano Liebel

Master in Communication from the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Graduate degree in Translation Studies (English and Portuguese) from UFPR and Researcher at the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: liebel.vitor@gmail.com.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no confl ict of interest.

Editor: Maria Ataide Malcher

Editorial assistant: Weverton Raiol

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures | Tables

Figures (4)
Tables (1)

Thumbnail

Graph 1
Most used argumentative devices

Thumbnail

Graph 2
Commentator positioning sarcasm

Thumbnail

Graph 3
Arguments used

Thumbnail

Graph 4
Sarcasm versus Dominant persuasive strategy⁹ 9 Chi-square test of 891.450, with 3 degrees of freedom and statistical significance of 99.9%.

Thumbnail

Table 1
Sarcasm versus Form

Graph 1 Most used argumentative devices

Source: author’s own elaboration.

Graph 2 Commentator positioning sarcasm

Source: author’s own elaboration.

Graph 3 Arguments used

Source: author’s own elaboration.

Graph 4 Sarcasm versus Dominant persuasive strategy⁹ 9 Chi-square test of 891.450, with 3 degrees of freedom and statistical significance of 99.9%.

Source: author’s own elaboration.

Table 1 Sarcasm versus Form

Form	Sarcasm
Declaration/statement	2615
Opposite point of view	78
Clarification	159
Questioning	485
Solution proposal	77
Call to action	28
Establishing conflict	943
Does not apply	25
Total	4411

Source: author’s own elaboration.

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Bolsonaro laughed at it, and so did I: sarcasm as bonding rhetoric in online conversations about cutbacks in education

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[1] Carla Candida Rizzotto

Ph.D. in Communication and Languages from the Tuiuti University of Paraná. Professor and Researcher at the Department of Communication and the Graduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR). Coordinator of the Communication and Political Participation research group (Compa). E-mail: carla_rizzotto@yahoo.com.br.