The initiative indicated in the title was one of the key elements of the ceremonies held in New York to celebrate the United Nation’s 70th anniversary. On this occasion, more than 200 iconic buildings around the world had been lit up in “UN blue” coloured lights. This initiative, however may not only be interpreted as a simple ceremonial act promoting unity and togetherness around the world: considering the second layer of its symbolics, it may appear as an important and telling element of a certain totalizing project. My aim is first to define, then to reveal this totalizing intention in the UN’s activity, focusing in this paper only on the light ceremony element of the whole picture.
The research questions that follow are definitely how-type questions, as the paper is constructing an admittedly critical perspective. Critical, because it tries to identify the power motives and hegemonic attitudes that lie behind the United Nations rhetoric – be it verbal or non-verbal. How do signs of totalization show in this event? How are these able to manifest power, and what type of power? How do subjects take in the targeted message? The answer to these questions lie in political symbolics and symbol analysis. Studying the rationale, formation, meaning and reception of this political symbol, I am trying to get closer to these questions. While doing so I am applying theory to a rather topical issue, and also use the issue to develop new elements of theory – by which I am trying to contribute to the existing critical literature. The most suitable approach to such investigation is discourse analysis.
From the variety of discursive methodologies, I am focusing mostly on the insights of context-oriented approaches, especially those with critical focus (CDA) in order to better analyse the phenomenon. I will include important concept definitions such as the one of totalization: my definition will be based on Michel Foucault’s, but also transformed according to the needs of the international context. The symbol analysis which we will be conducting will be standing on postmodern grounds as well, using discourse analytical tools and considering important political symbol analysts’ work such as Edelman. I am going to summarize the key features of the event as well as its special context, focusing on elements with symbolic significance. By the end of the paper, the methodology outlined above will lead to a critical interpretation of the event and also the UN’s rhetoric implied.
