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Adriana Blažević

Adriana Blažević, PhD candidate in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Split, Croatia

 

Somewhere between teaching and Netflix marathons, I’m a third-year doctoral researcher trying to make sense of how language, power, and society collide (and occasionally collude).

As a lecturer in English for Specific Purposes (ESP) at both the Arts Academy in Split and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Naval Architecture (FESB), as well as in Rhetoric at the Department of English, University of Humanities and Social Sciences in Split, I keep busy reflecting on how discourse, education, and social normativity play out in practice – sometimes all in the same classroom.

With a background in English Language and Literature and Sociology, my research digs into the ways language interacts with power and broader social structures. So far, my doctoral work has produced several studies rooted in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) – or, as some like to call it, “reading between the lines, but with more footnotes.”

At present, my research focuses on the framing of migration in institutional discourse. Using the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA), I examine how social actors affected by migration are represented – and, more often than not, discursively “othered.” In short, I argue that migration is framed not merely as a demographic or humanitarian issue, but as part of larger economic and geopolitical narratives. Underpinning this is my sustained interest in how language functions within social processes. As both a linguist and sociologist (and unapologetic overthinker), I’m especially drawn to unpacking the ideologies behind today’s threat-based discourses, so often saturated with bias and spin.

Beyond academia, I wear other hats: sister, daughter, and loving aunt. I’m also an avid reader, film and series enthusiast, and museum wanderer. Somehow, I manage to squeeze in a CrossFit membership too (yes, I really do take it seriously, despite the frequent temptation to swap pull-ups for gelato). Fun fact: I was born in Australia and grew up in a bilingual household, which left me with a love of multiculturality and, for better or worse, an accent that tends to confuse people.

Most importantly, I was fortunate enough to become this year’s Croatian fellow (yes, Croatian – as in Luka Modrić), and will wear my Dalmatian identity with pride. So if you ever need someone to remind you that everything is a social construct, join you for a museum visit, and still manage a round of burpees afterwards, I’m your person.

 

Contact

E-mail:
Address:
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Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies
300-F
Arts & Convocation Hall
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2E6