Discourse Analysis: Assignment 1 Sample Solution

Applied Linguistics March 31, 2023

 

Assignment 1: Sample Solution

Analyzing Discourse in Media Coverage: A Case Study on the Black Lives Matter Movement

Introduction: The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has received significant media coverage worldwide since its inception in 2013. The movement emerged in response to the ongoing police brutality and systemic racism against Black people in the United States. In this essay, I will apply discourse analysis to media coverage of the BLM movement to explore how language shapes public perception and understanding of the movement.

Step 1: Collecting Media Texts: I collected a range of media texts related to the BLM movement, including news articles, opinion pieces, social media posts, and videos.

Step 2: Preliminary Analysis: After analyzing the media texts, I identified the following key themes and patterns in the use of language:

  • The BLM movement is often portrayed as a violent and divisive movement in the media, particularly by conservative news outlets.
  • The language used to describe the movement is often negative and inflammatory, with words like "thugs," "rioters," and "looters" frequently used to describe protesters.
  • There is often a lack of representation of Black voices and perspectives in the media coverage of the movement.
  • The media coverage often focuses on the surface-level aspects of the movement, such as protests and riots, rather than the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality.

Step 3: Applying Discourse Analysis: In applying discourse analysis to the media coverage of the BLM movement, I explored the following questions:

  • How do the texts reflect or reinforce social or political power relations?

The media coverage of the BLM movement often reinforces social and political power relations by portraying the movement as a threat to the status quo. By focusing on the violence and unrest associated with the movement, the media often frames the movement as a threat to law and order rather than a response to systemic racism and police brutality. This reinforces the idea that those who seek to challenge the status quo are a threat to society and must be stopped.

  • How do the texts contribute to constructing social identity and understanding?

The language used to describe the BLM movement constructs a particular understanding of the movement as violent and divisive. This contributes to constructing a social identity for the movement as a threat to society rather than a legitimate response to systemic racism and police brutality. By framing the movement this way, the media contributes to a broader narrative that perpetuates the idea that Black people are inherently violent and dangerous.

  • Are there any underlying assumptions or beliefs that are reflected in the texts?

The media coverage of the BLM movement reflects underlying assumptions and beliefs about race, power, and social order. The media often portrays the movement as a threat to social order, reinforcing that the status quo is the natural and right state. This assumption is rooted in a broader belief in white people's superiority and the systems they have created.

  • How might different interpretations or understandings of the event or issue be constructed through alternative discourses?

Alternative discourses that focus on the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality can construct a very different understanding of the BLM movement. These discourses can frame the movement as a legitimate response to ongoing injustice rather than a threat to social order. This framing can shift the focus away from the violence and unrest associated with the movement and toward the underlying issues that are driving the movement.

Step 4: Reflective Essay: Based on my analysis, it is clear that the media coverage of the BLM movement contributes to a particular understanding of the movement as violent and divisive rather than a legitimate response to systemic racism and police brutality. This reinforces broader narratives about race, power, and social order that perpetuate systemic racism and white supremacy. By focusing on the surface-level aspects of the movement, the media also misses the opportunity to engage with the underlying issues that are driving the movement and to amplify the voices of Black people who are most affected by systemic racism and police brutality.

My analysis also highlights the importance of alternative discourses that centre on the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality. These discourses can offer a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the BLM movement and its goals. They can also help shift public perception and understanding of the movement away from the idea that it threatens social order and toward recognising the systemic injustices the movement seeks to address.

In conclusion, discourse analysis can help us to understand how language shapes public perception and understanding of social and political issues. In the case of the BLM movement, discourse analysis reveals the ways in which the media coverage of the movement reinforces broader narratives about race, power, and social order that perpetuate systemic racism and white supremacy. However, alternative discourses that centre on the underlying issues of systemic racism and police brutality can offer a more accurate and nuanced understanding of the movement and help to shift public perception and understanding in a more positive direction.

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