EXAMPLES OF MEDIA ANALYSIS A.AN ANARCHISTS’ MARCH Based on framing and hegemony concepts, subtle...

EXAMPLES OF MEDIA EXAMPLES OF MEDIA ANALYSISANALYSIS

A.A. AN ANARCHISTS’ MARCHAN ANARCHISTS’ MARCH Based on framing and hegemony Based on framing and hegemony

concepts, subtle cues serve to concepts, subtle cues serve to delegitimize social protest movements. delegitimize social protest movements.

What choice of language is notable in What choice of language is notable in the way the reporters describe the the way the reporters describe the protesters?protesters?

How are the protesters framed? Who How are the protesters framed? Who are they seen in opposition to?are they seen in opposition to?

An Anarchists’ March - An Anarchists’ March - AnalysisAnalysis

What visual devices in the coverage are What visual devices in the coverage are important in framing the protesters?important in framing the protesters?

What aspects of the marching activity did What aspects of the marching activity did the coverage revolve around?the coverage revolve around?

What kinds of sources were relied on? What kinds of sources were relied on? What other sources could have been What other sources could have been called upon?called upon?

What is the ideological effect of the What is the ideological effect of the coverage as a whole?coverage as a whole?


LOCAL PRINT MEDIALOCAL PRINT MEDIA Local mainstream Print media Local mainstream Print media

characterization of a street demonstration characterization of a street demonstration of ‘anarchists’: of ‘anarchists’:

Headline Headline framesframes event: event: "ANARCHISTS ORGANIZE TO WREAK "ANARCHISTS ORGANIZE TO WREAK

HAVOC DOWNTOWN"HAVOC DOWNTOWN" News News focusesfocuses on appearance of on appearance of

marchers: unruly hair, dress, etc.marchers: unruly hair, dress, etc.


Actions examined based on elements of Actions examined based on elements of criminalitycriminality:: One-dollar bills burned, symbolic meaning not One-dollar bills burned, symbolic meaning not

discussed, but police quoted saying "burning less discussed, but police quoted saying "burning less than 2 dollars at once is not a crime."than 2 dollars at once is not a crime."

Incomplete photo showed protester burning Incomplete photo showed protester burning American flag--did not show them also burning American flag--did not show them also burning Soviet and McDonalds flag, focusing on the "anti-Soviet and McDonalds flag, focusing on the "anti-Americanness"Americanness"

Great attention given to thoughts of bystanders, Great attention given to thoughts of bystanders, esp. those who disagree with the marchesp. those who disagree with the march


Considerable attention to Considerable attention to officialofficial points points of view: e.g. the Deputy chief of policeof view: e.g. the Deputy chief of police

MeaningMeaning of ‘anarchy’ not addressed: of ‘anarchy’ not addressed: stereotype of society in disorder, chaos, stereotype of society in disorder, chaos, ruled by will of the strong. ruled by will of the strong.

Anarchy actually Anarchy actually contrastedcontrasted with with hierarchy of people in powerhierarchy of people in power


COVERAGE BY ANARCHISTS' OWN MEDIACOVERAGE BY ANARCHISTS' OWN MEDIA Anarchist media Anarchist media coveragecoverage by by The The

Guardian Guardian newspaper: “OVERTHROW”newspaper: “OVERTHROW” Emphasizes Emphasizes planningplanning behind march behind march Gives clear statements of Gives clear statements of rationalerationale behind behind

each stop on march e.g.: Pillsbury was each stop on march e.g.: Pillsbury was picketed because of "ownership of Burger picketed because of "ownership of Burger King and other fast food enterprises which King and other fast food enterprises which contribute to the destruction of the world's contribute to the destruction of the world's largest remaining rain forests in Central largest remaining rain forests in Central and South America."and South America."


Characterizes Characterizes eventsevents as peaceful and as peaceful and cooperativecooperative

PortraysPortrays police as instigators rather than police as instigators rather than respondents of violencerespondents of violence

CriticizesCriticizes local media for concentrating local media for concentrating on "punks" rather than older on "punks" rather than older demonstratorsdemonstrators

EstimatesEstimates crowd at 200 in first march. crowd at 200 in first march. ( ( The StarThe Star & & TribuneTribune: quoted bystanders as : quoted bystanders as estimating crowd at 100)estimating crowd at 100)


TELEVISION COVERAGETELEVISION COVERAGE Presented in law and order, social Presented in law and order, social

controlcontrol frameframe ““These protesters These protesters callcall themselves themselves

anarchists. They anarchists. They claimclaim they're they're opposed to any and all forms of opposed to any and all forms of government. (government. (DelegitimizingDelegitimizing))


BlameBlame violence on protesters (none of the violence on protesters (none of the anarchists given air-time to speak)anarchists given air-time to speak)

Pictures shot from behind the Pictures shot from behind the policepolice, thus , thus adopting that visual viewpoint (adopting that visual viewpoint (FramingFraming))

Stories framed as Stories framed as anarchists vs. policeanarchists vs. police, rather , rather than vs. president of local bank, or CEO of than vs. president of local bank, or CEO of Pillsbury, e.g. (speaking to these may have Pillsbury, e.g. (speaking to these may have legitimized the protest)legitimized the protest)

VariationsVariations in coverage in coverage Clear Clear distinctiondistinction between mainstream (pro- between mainstream (pro-

government) and alternative (opposition) mediagovernment) and alternative (opposition) media


COVERAGE DEMONSTRATES IDEOLOGICAL COVERAGE DEMONSTRATES IDEOLOGICAL FUNCTION OF THE MEDIAFUNCTION OF THE MEDIA

Managing deviance, Managing deviance, reaffirmingreaffirming social order social order We live in a We live in a media-dependentmedia-dependent society society Essential to be able to Essential to be able to thinkthink clearly about: clearly about:

the important the important valuesvalues in our culture, in our culture, how they are how they are reproducedreproduced and transmitted by the and transmitted by the

mass media, mass media,


the the institutionsinstitutions that affect that that affect that process, process,

the people, groups and interests that the people, groups and interests that benefitbenefit and those who are and those who are harmedharmed..

The Persian War - AnalysisThe Persian War - Analysis

B.B. IDEOLOGY AND THE PERSIAN GULF WARIDEOLOGY AND THE PERSIAN GULF WAR LINGUISTIC DIRECTION IN GULF REPORTINGLINGUISTIC DIRECTION IN GULF REPORTING Myths, stories, and Myths, stories, and metaphormetaphor give meaning to events, give meaning to events,

affect the way we come to know things, direct our thinking affect the way we come to know things, direct our thinking e.g. “Mother of all battles”e.g. “Mother of all battles”

One of the important new theoretical areas in media One of the important new theoretical areas in media studies is the studies is the role of languagerole of language. .

Metaphors, in particular, are powerful in the way they Metaphors, in particular, are powerful in the way they structurestructure our thinking about issues. our thinking about issues.

E.g.: sports metaphors abound in discussing war, but E.g.: sports metaphors abound in discussing war, but improperly so:improperly so: The objective in sports is simply to win. In war, we must The objective in sports is simply to win. In war, we must

question what it is that we are winning. question what it is that we are winning.


WAR DEPICTED AS ‘NATURAL EVENT’WAR DEPICTED AS ‘NATURAL EVENT’ Desert StormDesert Storm War EruptsWar Erupts War breaks outWar breaks out

Bombs "rain,"Bombs "rain," Scuds "shower"Scuds "shower" (Compare with “The vase broke” – (Compare with “The vase broke” –

no agent)no agent)


WAR AS ‘CONTEST’WAR AS ‘CONTEST’ Turkey shootTurkey shoot Showdown in the GulfShowdown in the Gulf

Knock out…Knock out…

Sink ‘em all…Sink ‘em all…

Mow ‘em…Mow ‘em…


DEHUMANIZATION OF ENEMYDEHUMANIZATION OF ENEMY Saddam's war machineSaddam's war machine Mosquito (Iraq) biting elephant (the USA)Mosquito (Iraq) biting elephant (the USA) The enemy is: crafty, peculiar, surprising, The enemy is: crafty, peculiar, surprising,

unpredictable, mysterious, horrifying, unpredictable, mysterious, horrifying, unreliable, weak, haphazard, desperate, unreliable, weak, haphazard, desperate, unspeakable, bizarre, demonic, devilish, unspeakable, bizarre, demonic, devilish, satanic, criminal, ruthless, cruel, complex, satanic, criminal, ruthless, cruel, complex, randomrandom


We are: meticulous, successful, We are: meticulous, successful, precise, accurate, careful, precise, accurate, careful, scrupulous, tough, cool calm, swift, scrupulous, tough, cool calm, swift, decisive, effective, confident, decisive, effective, confident, cautious, eager, enthusiasticcautious, eager, enthusiastic

((StrategyStrategy of negative Other- of negative Other-representation and positive Self-representation and positive Self-representation)representation)


MAKE KILLING ABSTRACTMAKE KILLING ABSTRACT Suppressing assetsSuppressing assets Collateral damageCollateral damage Neutralizing targetsNeutralizing targets Degrade/Downgrade initiativesDegrade/Downgrade initiatives Acquire assetsAcquire assets Soften up targetsSoften up targets


HIDING THE ACTOR (OR AGENT)HIDING THE ACTOR (OR AGENT) "Its war""Its war" ““Non-combatants died” Non-combatants died” (Again, ‘The vase broke’…)(Again, ‘The vase broke’…)


DEMONIZATION PROCESSDEMONIZATION PROCESS Gaddafi vs. Hussein: The most Gaddafi vs. Hussein: The most

dangerous man in the world in dangerous man in the world in NewsweekNewsweek features on both men features on both men

Visual changes in Hussein picture in Visual changes in Hussein picture in New RepublicNew Republic (to make him look like (to make him look like a demon)a demon)


HOW WAS OPINION MOBILIZED IN THE HOW WAS OPINION MOBILIZED IN THE GULF WAR?GULF WAR?

Early support was mixedEarly support was mixed In November, NYT ran front page story on In November, NYT ran front page story on

public uncertainty about Gulf policy. Sec. public uncertainty about Gulf policy. Sec. of State Baker, claimed it was about of State Baker, claimed it was about ""jobsjobs,"--","--"to bring it down to the level of the to bring it down to the level of the average citizenaverage citizen""

Support for troops is converted to support Support for troops is converted to support for policy: “for policy: “We support our boys in the We support our boys in the Gulf. They are fighting for the nationGulf. They are fighting for the nation.”.”


Think about ideological influences of media: Think about ideological influences of media: Isn't it remarkable that public opinion Isn't it remarkable that public opinion materialised so dramatically over that short materialised so dramatically over that short period of time?period of time?

Once troops are committed, a powerful set Once troops are committed, a powerful set of routines and messages are engaged of routines and messages are engaged which establish their own logic, making it which establish their own logic, making it difficult to envision alternative policies.difficult to envision alternative policies.

Support for the troops has been given the Support for the troops has been given the corporate and Hollywood treatment: Yellow corporate and Hollywood treatment: Yellow ribbon ads in Austin Weekly; several ribbon ads in Austin Weekly; several Welcome Home TroopsWelcome Home Troops ads ads

EXAMPLES OF MEDIA ANALYSIS A.AN ANARCHISTS’ MARCH Based on framing and hegemony concepts, subtle...

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