Neale argues that media texts are made meaningful through repetition and difference—they belong to genres because they follow familiar conventions, but they must also introduce variation to stay engaging. Genres are not fixed; they evolve over time, shaped by cultural, political, and institutional factors. In newspapers, genre shapes the structure, tone, and style of stories, guiding audience expectations and reinforcing social norms.
1. Start with the Genre of the Newspaper or Story
Ask: What type of news story is this?
Is it a political exposé, human interest piece, celebrity gossip, crime report, editorial?
-
Identify the conventional features of this genre: sensationalism, formal language, statistics, emotive appeal, moral commentary.
-
Consider what expectations the audience brings to this kind of story.
Neale link: The article follows genre conventions to be recognisable (e.g. crime reports often use urgency and threat) but may subvert them to provoke interest or controversy.
2. Analyse the Visual Codes
-
What visual conventions are typical for this genre?
-
Tabloids: Dramatic images, direct eye contact, close-up faces, chaos or emotion.
-
Broadsheets: Formal images, distant framing, calm composition, authority figures.
-
-
Look at how lighting, angles, and composition contribute to genre expectations.
Neale link: The image relies on familiar genre codes (e.g. low-angle shot = authority in political stories) but may introduce difference (e.g. playful pose in a traditionally serious story) to stand out.
3. Break Down the Headline and Language Choices
-
What kind of language is typical for this genre?
-
Emotive? Formal? Biased? Punny? Alarmist?
-
-
Are there patterns of repetition in the way news is framed or reported (e.g. recurring villains, heroes, threats)?
Neale link: Language choices contribute to the genre’s recognisable style. The text may follow familiar narrative structures (e.g. conflict-resolution) while introducing new angles to refresh the story.
4. Consider Subheadings, Captions, and Pull Quotes
-
How do these elements function within the genre?
-
Do they reinforce the main message or provide a twist?
-
Are they used to heighten drama, clarify detail, or emphasise emotion?
-
Neale link: These features are part of the genre formula—expected by audiences—but they also allow for creative variation, especially when presenting evolving social narratives or unexpected perspectives.
5. Identify Genre Conventions and How They Reflect Ideology
-
What values or beliefs are repeated across this genre?
-
E.g., tabloid crime stories often emphasise punishment, danger, and protection.
-
E.g., political coverage may uphold authority, challenge corruption, or promote national unity.
-
Neale link: Genres reinforce ideology by repeating familiar messages (e.g. “the hardworking citizen” in human interest stories), but small differences can suggest shifts in social attitudes or critique dominant values.
6. Audience Positioning Through Genre Expectations
-
How is the audience being positioned?
-
Are they being invited to judge, sympathise, fear, or admire?
-
Does the genre create a sense of reassurance or disruption?
-
Neale link: Genres position audiences through repeated patterns they recognise. When these are disrupted, the audience may feel challenged, surprised, or more engaged.
Sentence Starters for Your Essay
-
“This article uses familiar conventions of the [crime/celebrity/political] genre such as…”
-
“Neale argues that genre is built on repetition and difference—here, the text repeats [feature] but subverts expectations by…”
-
“The headline reinforces the genre's ideological message that…”
-
“The visual codes follow the conventions of the [tabloid/broadsheet] genre to…”
-
“This pull quote adds variation within the genre by highlighting…”
CONTEXTUALISING WITH NEALE
Genre doesn’t exist in a vacuum—context matters. Here’s how to apply social, cultural, political, and historical context through a Neale lens:
1. Social Context
-
Look for: Representations of class, gender, race, age, or social roles.
-
Ask: How does the article repeat or challenge these conventions?
2. Cultural Context
-
Look for: Symbols, values, traditions, language.
-
Ask: What culturally familiar tropes are used or subverted?
3. Political Context
-
Look for: Coverage of authority, power, justice, or political figures.
-
Ask: How do genre patterns support or question political ideologies?
4. Historical Context
-
Look for: Nostalgic references, past leaders/events, traditional values.
-
Ask: How does the genre reflect or react against past representations?
No comments:
Post a Comment