Classical liberalism and press theory: An analysis of metanarratival influence in the creation of press narratives about attempts to reform the General Mining Law of 187

This dissertation examines certain press narratives to determine whether a tension exists between traditional theories of the press and theories that allege ideological roots of environmental degradation. The dissertation applies a rhetorical critique to comment on arguments that the ideological roots of theories of the press constrain press narratives from including marginalized viewpoints.;Three methods of analysis provide triangulation. Two methods of Burkeian rhetorical criticism are used: pentadic analysis and cluster criticism. A third method--thematic identification--that relies on Burkeian principles is also used.;The dissertation finds that a metanarrative of classical liberalism underlies the symbolic constructions in press narratives regarding attempts to reform the General Mining Law of 1872. Pentadic analysis finds that scene is the dominant pentadic term, allowing materialism to be identified as the philosophy that houses these press narratives. Cluster criticism identifies key terms related to classical liberalism as dominant in the narratives. These key terms include restrictions, ownership, economic value, productivity/use, magnitude/quantification, time, opposite/fair market value, power, and compromise/negotiation, Cluster criticism finds that these terms are intimately related and interconnected. Thematic identification augments these findings, showing that themes of domination, ownership and use, compromises, control, consequences, and technological determination are conspicuously present in the narratives. The theme of sanctity is found to be virtually absent.;The dissertation argues that those who are identified as holders of power have the capacity to control the events depicted in the sampled set of press narratives. It argues that viewing the mining law reform issue--and the press' participation in the symbolic construction of the issue--solely in terms of contestation between power holders and power seekers misses broader, more important social and cultural concerns. The dissertation argues that these findings support a theoretical position that the press is a partner in the articulation of the accepted rules, premises and rituals of social and cultural life with all other dominant social institutions. It argues that discourse that focuses solely on the press as a conspirator or a powerbroker leaves current ideologically grounded constructs unexamined and unavailable for public inspection for purposes of continued acceptance or enlightened rejection.