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]
SECOND TASK: Grade this paragraph using the mark scheme.
The two images encode a binary opposition between Markle - connoting selfishness and progressivism - and the Queen - connoting duty and traditionalism. Her smile and direct mode of address positions the reader to identify with the Queen, while Markle is looking off camera and appears smug. The text is constructing the underlying ideological assumption that it values traditionalism and duty (right-wing cultural values) over progressivism (a left-wing cultural value) and selfishness. This messaging appeals to the right-wing values of Daily Mail readers. The anchoring text furth encodes the opposition between the Queen making a 'Speech' as British monarch and Markle 'Speaking Out' against her treatment. Daily Mail readers are socially conservative and patriotic so they will respect the Queen being dutiful but will view Markle's speaking publicly about private issues as distasteful.
THIRD TASK: Now write and post your own paragraph writing about the headline, sub-headline, standfirst etc.
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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.
Lewis Martin
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Sonny Johnson
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-Nadia
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katie b
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Based on comments:
ReplyDeleteIn the next paragraph we need to maintain the use of terminology and examples. Clarify the quality of analysis and to directly reference the language of the question.
Rosie Ansell – Halford
ReplyDeleteThe newspaper shows the social and cultural context between the two women where the queen is in the upmost of her power and Meghan is seen as progressive get an outcast among the royals. The Daily mail uses the two images of Meghan Markle and the Queen as binary opposition showing the differences in age and types of duty. The daily male conveys the Queen as “for the people” by using direct address showing she's neither beneath or below us whereas the image of Meghan tries to present self-duty and narcissism with her seemingly smug expression and lack of direct address. The text in-between the two images of the women show the division between them emphasizing the “bombshell interview” as the cause of such dismay. The adjective “bombshell” and verb “fallout” connote nuclear war using semantic fields to present the situation as dire and as bad as it can be. The daily mail uses the Seriff front to present more traditional paper values conveying traditionalism in the banner headline. The simplicity of the headline shows the bluntness of their opinion. The sub headline “queen tells commonwealth what real service is” conveys the Queen as selfless and a savior for the people in the country whereas Meghan as selfish and prioritizing self-service, something people do not want to see in royals.
Evie Pidduck-The newspaper article highlights the social and cultural context between both women as the Queen is the pinnacle of duty and traditionalism whereas Meghan is seen as more progressive. This binary opposition allows the culturally conservative, royalist, older readers to side with the Queen due to the fact it is insinuated that Meghan has no value for duty. This is because in the banner headline there is very large, bold typography in the font 'seriff' which connotes traditionalism as it is a traditional font. It encodes the simplicity of the message through the hyperbolic word choice, 'duty'. In sub headline 2 the adjective 'bombshell' eludes to the nuclear war, conveying pain and suffering to the highly dutiful Queen of England. The second sub headline also separates the two photos which symbolically shows the divide between their views and opinions on the importance of duty.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Patrick
ReplyDeleteWhen first viewing the Daily Mails article, immediately a binary opposition is encoded between the two differing social and cultural contexts and views. Meghan - connoting her selfishness, smugness and lack of duty - and The Queen - connoting her duty, traditionalism and general antithesis to Meghan's views. Firstly, the use of quick an simple language, as well as, hyperbole within the banner headline highlights how much more The Queen cares about her duty to her people, whilst simultaneously highlighting Meghan as uncaring for the people she is meant to care for. After that, the sub headline is worded to highlight The Queen as a dutiful leader to her country, due to her telling the "commonwealth what real service is". This is also simultaneously putting Meghan in a bad light as it highlights her service as selfish and generally poor. Next, the stand first below creates a lexical field of nuclear war through using language such as "fallout" and "bombshell" to further exaggerate the severity of the two opposing parties anger shown to each other.
The social context gives us the binary opposition between Meghan who is young and the Queen who is old. It also gives us the social class between Meghan who was married into being a royal and the Queen who is the epitome of the elites and royals. The cultural context however, tells us that Meghan is young and rebellious, whereas the Queen is a traditionalist and this relates to the Daily Mail readers as almost all of the audience is 60+ years old. The banner headline creates a binary opposition with the hyperbole of everything. The headlines says “Duty is everything” which relates to the Queen due to her being old which relates back to the cultural context of the elderly being traditionalist. The binary opposition is created with Meghan being young so the exaggeration of “everything” means that Meghan supposedly thinks duty is nothing. The headline is also in SERIF which helps us relate it to the Queen because SERIF is a fancy and traditionalist font. The sub-headline says “Queen tells Commonwealth what real service is” which also hints at a binary opposition of the Queen and Meghan. The words “real service” show the Queen knowing how to serve properly and help the traditionalist values whereas Meghan is seen as not knowing what real service is and is actually self-service showing her as selfish. The sub-headline number two has two words from a semantic field of ‘war’ with “fallout” and “bombshell” heavily relating to nuclear war. This idea is also shown by the placement of the sub-heading as it is in-between the Queen and Meghan showing that the interview was designed to cause the Queen pain and drive a wedge between the royal family. Each headline forces the reader to view Meghan as being a selfish, young, rebellious figure but forces us to view the Queen as a traditional, old, smart and respectful figure which relates back to the social and cultural contexts which directly affect one another.
ReplyDeleteHolly Adams
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. In addition, these binary oppositions may be used as a shorthand to clarify ideas or to make narratives compelling. They may also be used to construct easily identifiable character and to encourage audience identification. The front cover conveys both social and cultural contexts that the daily mail seems to agree with. The banner headline is in big bold letters, and the traditionalism that the daily mail values is exemplified by the serif font. A strong word like "everything" is hyperbolic and suggests that duty is the most important thing to queen and nothing else matters, the implication is that duty means nothing Meghan, if we've established a binary opposition, and duty means everything to the queen, then the opposite must be true for Meghan. The sub-headline uses language such as "real service" to imply that what Meghan does is self service, and therefore further promoting the idea that she only serves herself and is fake or unreal, which unravels whatever was said in her interview. The second sub-headline is between the two images, keeping them apart and causing division, as a resut, it is symbolically reinforcing the binary opposition between the two key figures. The words "bombshell" and "fallout" ignite the idea of nuclear war, hyperbolic language in the semantic field of warfare, conveying that Meghan and Harry have chosen to give an interview that will "destroy" the royal family, and making them out to be the villains. This would make many of the daily mail readers continue to dislike Meghan as it appears she is going directly against the queen, as she aligns with their values of patriotism and traditionalism
Sonny Johnson
ReplyDeleteThe social context gives us the idea that the queen is the pinnacle of British class and Megan is a wealthy American. the social context of age also influences the readers opinions. the typical reader of the daily mail will be more respectful of the Queen as she is older and less respectful of Megan since she is young. Ideologically the readers are typically older, conservative women and so they will be royalist and agree with the queen and dislike Megan. Before we even see the headline they like the queen and dislike Megan, she's looking away with a smug look, queen is looking at reader with kind look. The readers will already have this view before they see the paper and so it consolidates their ideas and makes them more inclined to believe what they read.
The banner headline uses a traditional serif font which exemplifies the traditionalist view in the headline. Big, bold, formal. The word 'everything' stands out clearly which implies that The Queen puts duty above everything else. The typical reader will agree with this. The binary opposition is established as everything and so with a strong hyperbolic word/idea such as this it implies that duty means nothing to Megan. Makes the reader really dislike Megan; the typical reader will be respectful of duty and so will not like Megan from the first word. Does not allow for a nuanced response and implies that Megan deserves no respect at all. The simple three word title encodes the idea that duty means nothing to Megan whilst promoting the idea that the queen is worthy of respect and support. he Commonwealth is mostly people of colour. It implies that the queen is the leader of a multi race commonwealth and so can't be racist and so Megan's claim that she is being racially targeted is false. Megan is mixed race, so the sub headline tries to divert the attention straight away and dismantle her claim. Furthermore The sub headline uses the binary opposition of 'real service' to imply that the queen gives service to a huge group of people not just herself or the British people. It draws the attention to the implied idea that Megan serves herself or puts on a front to provide 'fake service'. In the stand first The phrase 'braced itself' Implies that Megan is the attacker and the queen is the victim. This makes the reader automatically side with the queen, reinforces the idea of 'standing with the little guy'. This draws on the Christian culture of the nation and the deep rooted myth of traditional Christian values in British and commonwealth society. The second sub heading separates the two images which creates a division symbolic to the conflict between the two women, visually representing the two sides of the royal family. The use of the words from the semantic field of warfare, 'fallout' and 'bombshell' reinforce the idea of a conflict. The word 'fallout' also implies a nuclear war which results in total destruction, pain, and suffering. It conveys the idea that Megan and Harry intend to destroy the queen and her traditionalist British values with the interview. The reader will want to support the Queen because this sub heading is implying that Megan wants to tear down everything they stand for and believe in.
Erin
ReplyDeleteThe banner headline and sub headline 2 tells the audience what kind of queen she is. In social contexts and cultural contexts, the paper is showing an argument between the queen who is known to be very traditional and princess Meghan who’s not very traditional (old vs young). The text also talks about how the argument started with a “bombshell interview” which is also describing to us how the argument has turned into a nuclear war (British vs American).
In the daily mail newspaper cover, media language is used to present social and cultural contexts, by presenting Meghan Markle and the queen, and highlighting there social differences through image and text. In the banner headline, we see the phrase "Duty Means Everything" quoted from the queen. This is written in a sans serif font, connoting class and sophistication, the daily mail may have chosen to do this in order to emphasise their royalist, right leaning attitude towards society. in addition to this, having the banner headline read Duty Is Everything, highlights and attempts to put shame on Meghan Markle, as we know that at the time her and Prince Harry were stepping away from royal duties, implying that a "real royal" such as the queen, is dutiful to the royal family. It also creates a binary opposition of Duty V Betrayal. Just above the banner headline, the sub headline reads "Queen tells commonwealth what real service is". the commonwealth is the union of many countries spanning across multiple continents, which was formed after the British empire, and the Daily Mail are highlighting that the queen is reminding them of the importance of duty and service. Alternatively, the mentioning of the commonwealth could be interpreted as the Daily Mail using it as an example of multiculturalism, in order to defend themselves from accusations of racism, a common accusation of right wing newspapers. This also makes sense in context, as Meghan Markle alleged racism from the royal family, therefore the sun are further "protecting" themselves from accusations.
ReplyDeletewritten by rufus
DeleteThe banner headline "Duty means everything" in seriff shows a traditionalist typography, that is bold and direct. With only three words it is able to get the entire main topic into focus in a quick manner. The phrase uses binary opposition to say that, for the Queen, duty is everything, but for Megan, duty is nothing. It also does that with: young vs old, self vs duty and progressive vs traditional.
ReplyDeleteArthur Felipe Tostes Benedito
DeleteThe social difference of young and old between the two royals could suggests that there is a difference of how the queen is more elite whereas Meghan is seen as being more common. The large writing with the ‘Serif’ font suggests how it could be seen as formal like how the queen is being presented, the banner uses hyperbole of “everything” to emphasise the point that the queen cares for duty more than everything else however that would most likely not be true due to her family having been her top priority. The use of this headline would also suggest how Meghan does not care about her duty making people loose respect for Meghan and become unlikeable to the readers, while it makes the Queen become more likeable. The sub headline of ‘real service’ is making it seem as though only the queen knows what real service would be like, making it seem as if Meghan only cares about fake service and is drawing attention to becoming fake towards the media. The large second subheading seems to be splitting the images apart causing a division to the conflict between the people. The common nouns of ‘fallout’ and ‘bombshell’ are alluding to nuclear conflict with a semantic field of war imagery.
ReplyDeletekatie b
ReplyDeleteThere are may ways the two sources present ideas of social and cultural context. Levi-Strauss's idea of binary opposition makes it so the queen is seen as a wise, and respectable person while connoting ideas that Meghan is the opposite therefore a disrespectful person. This idea is created through the use of the banner headline which says "duty means everything" which is in a serif/formal font subtly creating the idea that while the queen thinks duty is everything Meghan thinks the opposite and that duty is nothing connoting the idea that Meghan is complaining because she doesn't want to do her duty. The sub headline further supports this idea as the phrase of "real service" is said by the queen which because of the binary opposition makes it seen like Meghan is doing "fake" service or being self serving/ self-fish. Overall the newspaper is conveying the social and cultural ideas that the queen is a wise sensible respectful traditional person while Meghan is a young self serving person who is complaining for no reason at all
leticia pinto muller
ReplyDeletethe banner headline in Serif brings a tradicionalism typography, while also being bold and straightforward, bringing only three words with 'everything' in focus, bringing back the binary opposition, taking the queen as someone who views duty as everything and implying that Meghan sees it as nothing, with the young vs old cultural and social context alongside self vs duty and progressive vs tradicional. The sub headline brings another social group, the commonwealth, using once again binary oppositions as it implies that the queen showed real service, leaving it to the readers to think Meghan has a self or fake service, as Meghan is part of the commonwealth and is viewed as a representation of them in the british royalty the text attacks them by saying that the queen even being a white royal she does her job better than Meghan, wanting the commonwealth by her side and not Meghan's.
omar-zion
ReplyDeleteCultural and social context is presented firstly through the bold serif text in the banner headline. Here typography is used to suggest importance and to express the significance of the message. Hyperbole is used on the word 'everything' to suggest that the queen solely focuses on her duty, out of all aspects of her important role - leading Britain and the commonwealth. This creates a binary opposition between the two as it implies that duty means nothing to meghan, appealing to traditional right-wing values about culture. The sub headline focuses on the queen addressing a much wider audience of people who are from multiple different races, proving to readers that the royals are not racist as they control multiple nations who have people from many races.
6/10
DeleteBe careful, you are on the verge of making a strong point in your first two sentences but need to focus it to something specific. For example, you should begin with: Cultural and social context is presented through the bold serif text in the banner headline; here the typography is used to suggest cultural value alignment with its older, right wing audience who value traditional values of duty and service in their elites.
There is really high level understanding here, but I am having to do a little too much of the heavy lifting together to make your argument for you. Try to include a few more examples.
Nadia- Extra time-
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Mail clearly highlights the social and cultural contexts. The Queen is represented as wiser, and she represents traditionalism. Whilst Meghan is presented as the opposite (the attacker). The Daily Mail is aimed at a readership who is royalist, patriotic and traditionalist, therefore favouring the Queen. As well as this, the banner headline uses bold typography that stands out. The use of a serif font implies formality and gives a traditional perspective. The simplicity of the banner headline ‘DUTY MEANS EVERYTHING’ subtly implies that the Queen puts duty above all unlike Meghan. The binary opposition indicates that duty means nothing to Meghan whilst duty means ‘everything’ to the Queen. The Daily Mail uses a hyperbolic phrase to exaggerate the Queen’s duty and role. In the second sub-headline, it is placed between the image of Meghan and the Queen, highlighting the division. By using hyperbolic phrases like ‘Fallout’ and ‘Bombshell’ it conveys conflict and war between the Queen and Meghan.
6/10
DeleteBased on your first sentence, which social and cultural context - You might wish to write - "The Daily Mail clearly highlights the social and cultural contexts of the story, by establishing the older and elite Queen of England as being synonymous with the British cultural respect for duty and service, in binary opposition with the younger American, Princess Megan as being synonymous with selfishness.
There is so much good stuff in your paragraph that I can see you heading for 7 or 8 out of 10 in no time. However, you need to make a few more references to the theory, especially considering concepts like myth, fables, ideology etc. Lots of potential.
RODRIGO
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Mail front cover heavily relies on Claude Lévi-Strauss’s structuralist theory of binary oppositions to construct a dramatic ideological conflict that aligns the reader with traditional British values. Visually, the layout sets up a clear paradigm of Young vs. Old and Progressive vs. Traditional by placing a vibrant image of Meghan Markle directly opposite a formal portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. This visusl is heavily reinforced by the anchoring text directly below the images, which contrasts Meghan "Speaking out" with the Queen's "Speech." This linguistic choice carries negative connotations for Meghan, framing her individual narrative as disruptive complaining, whereas the Queen’s address is coded as dignified and legitimate. This opposition culminates in the dominant, low-angle banner headline, "DUTY MEANS EVERYTHING," which structurally positions the concept of institutional "Duty" (embodied by the Queen) as morally superior to "Self" (represented by Meghan). Ultimately, the newspaper uses these highly polarized binary pairs to reduce a complex cultural event into an easily identifiable narrative of conflict, inviting its traditional audience to reject progressive individualism in favor of nationalist duty.
6/10
DeleteI like your opening sentence, but get absolutely specific. Which British Values - simply write - 'British Values of respecting duty and service, especially in our most elite persons.' Beware some misrepresentations of the text - The banner headline is not low angle.
The quality of writing/Analysis here is 8 or 9, but be careful about accuracy in description of the text. Also, you need to be more thorough with your use of examples - when writing about the typography and content of the written elements (copy) you need several examples from across the page.
ReplyDeleteThe daily mail uses social and cultural context to create binary oppositions within the headlines of the paper. The banner headline uses a serif font to make the statement ‘duty means everything’ stand out. The headline is talking in terms of the Queen who is seen as a traditionalist, elite, and highly respected. The idea that duty means everything to the queen, implies that duty comes before everything else in the Queen's life yet means little if not nothing to Meghan Markle. This idea creates binary opposition between both the queen and Meghan. The first sub-headline comments on the commonwealth, something the audience of the daily mail would see as great. The sub-headline tries to push against the narrative that the queen and the royal family are racist, as alluded by Meghan, because the commonwealth is a multicultural and racially diverse group of people, in which the queen stands as head. Meghan suggesting that the queen is racist can make Meghan look like she's trying to harm the queen to the daily mail audience, again creating a binary opposition of an attacker and victim. EXTRA TIME. The stand first includes the words ‘braced itself’ suggesting the queen had to brace herself being aimed at her by Meghan Markle. The British public generally side the victim in a situation, implying they will instantly side with the queen. The second sub-heading separates the two pictures of Meghan and the queen, pitting the two against each other. This symbolically reinforces the binary opposition and conflict between them. The use of the words ‘fallout’ and ‘bombshell’ are a part of the symbatic field of war, specifically nuclear war.
6/10 You have a tendency to make a statement without making it meaningful. For example, "The daily mail uses social and cultural context to create binary oppositions within the headlines of the paper." Is sort of correct, but just hangs without saying anything. Try something like "The binary oppositions within the headlines of the Daily Mail cover, reflect the traditionalist social and cultural context of their older conservative readership." Can you see the difference? That said, there is some really great stuff here. The extra time element is mostly A grade. However, symbatic field = semantic field.
ReplyDelete