Typical Question Format:
Analyse the way that Media Language is used to present social and cultural contexts in Source A (The Daily Mail) and Source B (The Guardian Online).
Apply Levi-Strauss theories about structuralism in your answer.
Context: You will be asked to write about social, cultural, political or historical context.
Theory: You will be asked to apply one of the following theorists
- Apply Barthes Theories about semiotics.
- Levi-Strauss theories about structuralism.
- Todorov's theories about narratology.
- Baudrillard's theories about Postmodernism.
- Neale's theories about genre.
Social Context focuses on the different social groups being presented by the newspaper and what we are being encouraged to think about them. It will usually consider broad ideas such as gender, age and class, but may also consider ethnicity, race, disability, sexuality or other social groups. Think about which groups are being represented, how they are represented, and whether the newspaper presents them positively, negatively or neutrally.
Think about:
- Which social groups are being represented?
- What does the newspaper want us to think about that group?
- Is the representation positive, negative or mixed?
- Does the representation reflect wider social attitudes or tensions?
Simple question:
What is the newspaper saying about different groups of people?
CULTURAL CONTEXT
Cultural Context focuses on the beliefs, values and attitudes that exist within society and how the newspaper reflects or challenges them. It can include ideas about British identity, religion, tradition, family, morality, patriotism, popular culture and changing attitudes. Think about what the newspaper appears to believe is important, acceptable, normal or threatening.
Think about:
- What values and beliefs does the newspaper appear to promote?
- What does it present as right or wrong, normal or abnormal?
- How does it represent ideas about British identity or national identity?
- Does it support traditional values or challenge them?
- Are there particular cultural attitudes or beliefs that its audience is expected to share?
Simple question:
What values does the newspaper suggest are important, right, wrong or normal?
POLITICAL CONTEXT
Political Context focuses on the political ideas, events and issues. It is particularly important to consider who has political power, what political decisions are being made and where the newspaper stands politically. Think about how the newspaper's political viewpoint or ideology might affect the stories it chooses and the way it presents them. It is supporting a political party/perspective or is it challenging that party/perspective?
Think about:
- What political event or issue is the newspaper reporting?
- Who has power and who is being criticised or supported?
- What are the major political arguments or debates at the time?
- What is the newspaper's political viewpoint or agenda?
- How might the newspaper's political position influence its representation of the story?
Simple question:
What is happening politically, and whose side does the newspaper appear to be on?
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Historical Context focuses on the events, developments and changes from the past that help us understand the significance of a newspaper story. Think about whether the story is connected to a longer-running issue, previous event or historical relationship, and whether the newspaper is relying on its audience knowing about that past. Historical context can therefore help explain why this particular story matters at this particular time and why it may be represented in a particular way.
Think about:
- What is the historical significance of the story? Why does this event matter beyond what happened on that particular day?
- Is the story part of a longer-running issue? For example, immigration, the NHS, the economy, Britain's relationship with Europe, or tensions between countries.
- Are there important historical events or relationships behind the story? These may shape how readers understand the people or issues involved.
- Has the situation changed over time? Consider whether the newspaper is presenting the story as evidence of progress, decline, crisis or change.
- Does the newspaper use the past to influence how we judge the present? For example, by referring to previous governments, conflicts, scandals or historical events.
Simple question:
What does the past add to our understanding of this story?
QUESTION CONTEXT:
On March 7th, 2021, Meghan Duchess of Sussex gave an Interview to Oprah Winfrey in which she accused the Royal Family of racism. This came just a few hours after the Queen's speech to the British Commonwealth in which she stressed the importance of duty.
SOURCE A: DAILY MAILCOVER MARCH 8th 2021
YOU MAY FIND IT EASIER TO USE THIS...
REMEMBER THE MARK SCHEME
1. THEORY [0,1,2]
FIRST TASK: Rewrite this definition. Try to be as succinct as possible. Post below:
Levi-Strauss theorises that all narratives are organised into binary oppositions. By analysing the underlying oppositions within a text, we may understand the ideological positions that are being taken. In addition, these binary oppositions may be used as a shorthand to clarify ideas or as a way to make narratives compelling. They may also be used to construct easily identifiable character and to encourage audience identification.
2. QUESTION [0,1,2]
3. EXAMPLE [0,1,2]
4. ANALYSIS [0,1,2]
5. TERMINOLOGY [0,1,2]
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ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss theorises that all narratives are organised into binary oppositions. By analysing the underlying oppositions within a text, we may understand the ideological positions that are being taken. These binary oppositions can underpin the myths or ideologies that already exist in our minds, reinforcing them to us. They are also used for things like making narratives more compelling and to construct easily identifiable characters.
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss believes all narratives have binary oppositions. we analyse oppositions in the text to understand where ideologies lay. these binary oppositions can be used as a shorthand to create familiar characters as well as clarifying ideas/making narratives compelling.
ReplyDeleteMr Haywood
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss argues that binary oppositions underpin all narratives, revealing the ideological positions and cultural myths in a text. They clarify ideas, make narratives compelling, create recognisable characters and encourage audience identification.
Levi-Strauss theorizes all narratives have binary opposites. By analyzing the underlying oppositions in a text, the ideological positions are understood. In addition, these binary oppositions are used as a shorthand, clarifying ideas or making narratives compelling. They’re also used to construct easily identifiable character and to encourage audience identification.
ReplyDeleteEvie Pidduck-Levi-Strauss argues all narratives contain binary oppositions which allow us to understand the ideology being used. These may also act as a shorthand to clarify ideas or make narratives more compelling. Constructing easily identifiable characters encourages audience identification.
ReplyDeleteRufus
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss argued that all stories are based on binary opposition . By looking at these opposites, we can discover the story's message. These contrasts also make stories more exciting, make complex ideas simpler, and create clear characters that audiences can easily root for or against.
rosie ansell halford
ReplyDeleteLevi - Strauss states all narratives fit into binary oppositions. To understand ideological positions in a text we can analyze hidden oppositions. binary oppositions can be used to explain ideas, make narrative enticing or create identifiable characters.
Daisy-
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss developed the idea of binary opposition, where myths have linking opposite terms. It makes sure that narratives more compelling along with clarifying his ideas. His Binary opposition would also encourage audience identification by making easily identifiable characters
Arthur Tostes Benedito
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss believed that narratives are organised into binary oppositions. We analyse oppositions within a text to understand the ideological positions that are being taken. These binary oppositions can be used as a shorthand to clarify ideas or as a way to make narratives compelling. Can also be used to make a identifiable character and to encourage audience identification.
Nadia-
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss theorises that all narratives are organised into binary oppositions. By analysing the binary oppositions in media, it allows us to understand the ideological positions that are being taken. As well as this, these binary oppositions can be used as a shorthand to clarify ideas or to make narratives compelling.
Levi Strauss argues narratives use binary oppositions to reveal ideology, clarify ideas, create engaging stories, and build relatable characters for audience identification. :)
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss's thinks that all narratives have binary opposition which are analyzed and used to clarify ideas, make characters/narratives compelling and encourage audience identification.
ReplyDeleteSonny Johnson
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss says: Narratives have binary oppositions. By analysing oppositions within text, ideological positions become clear. Binary oppositions use shorthand clarify ideas, make compelling easily identifiable characters and aid reader identification.
*clarifying
DeleteRodrigo
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss theorizes that narratives use binary oppositions to engage audiences, clarify ideas, and simplify characterization, while revealing the text's underlying ideological positions.
leticia pinto muller
ReplyDeleteLevi-Strauss theorizes every narrative uses binary oppositions, using it to clarify ideas, convincing the audience and creating relative characters to make its point.