Discourse analysis has been defined ‘as a close examination of text, including visual imagery and sound as well as spoken of written language.’ Discourse analysis is a developing method which stemmed from the scrutinises of mediums. I will be using the works of Smith and Allan (2004) and Smoodin (1994) to understand and come to terms with what discourse analysis is and how it is used every day.
Discourse analysis is almost like a gateway into interpretation and assessing the underlying message that was set from the media owners. It is almost correlates with reasons as to why regulations have been put into place. Smoodin’s work is primarily about the work of Disney, however what is interesting about the disclosure of Disney, is how the ideas and perceptions came across and the ways of which they did so. They used worldwide problems to promote certain aspects of their business venture and to certain audiences.
Alongside this, Smith and Bell believed that there are a variable amount of discourses and that these can be found that relate to social media and the news. Many discourses are disguised in memes and because as a society we get so trapped within the comedic aspect we don’t pay enough attention the political issues that lie behind it.
In conclusion, discourse and analysis has proven to be a challenge for me to understand and to grasp. I believe that I need to further my research into discourse and understand the reasons as to why rather than how. I am still not sure that the works that I considered helped me to develop a general idea as to what discourse is but I hope in time they will. If I were to conduct some research into this subject area I would, contract as many media texts as I could find and ask people to interpret them and see if there were any reoccurring themes and look into signifiers and the signified.
References
Chapter 4: Smith, Philippa and Bell, Allan (2007) ‘Unravelling the Web of Discourse Analysis’ in Eoin Devereux (2007) Media Studies: Key Issues and Debates. London: Sage. pp. 78-100
Eric Smoodin (1994) Disney Discourse; Producing the Magic Kingdom, Routledge
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