Using rhetorical analysis, this study examines news depictions of Osama bin Laden from 1999 to 2002 and explores how he was constructed as an evil genius archetype with near mythic abilities, knowledge and power. Equally plausible depictions of bin Laden as insane, idiotic or lucky were practically non-existent. Motives for framing bin Laden as an evil genius include: constructing a worthy adversary for a superpower; making him more understandable to audiences familiar with the evil genius mythical archetype; helping audiences understand the failure to apprehend him; the habitual utilization of Orientalist stereotypes; and avoidance of uncomfortable questions that might threaten prevailing elite power.
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Samuel P. Winch (2005) studied this question.
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