Discuss gender sexuality in the changing representation of Miley Cyrus
Order Description
1.Your task is to conduct a discourse analysis of a small selection of media texts.
2.You should have chosen one (or more) topics from this term as your focus.
3.You should have identified both a question and the data you want to analyse.
4.The aim is to present your findings drawing upon theoretical and academic literature to frame and inform that analysis.
Introduction
1.Include an outline or explanation of the ‘research problem’ you have addressed. Set the scene – give some context. Tell us why its important or interesting!
2.Include a summary of the data you have analysed and why you chose it – how will it help you address the research problem/questions?
3.Include a summary of the argument you will present in the body of the essay – this can be framed as a set of questions.
Main body
1.An in-depth and close analysis of the texts that answers the question or addresses your research problem.
2.Theme your discussion, do not discuss one text after the other. Look for the discourses across the texts.
3.Draw on theoretical literature to frame/guide your analysis. How can other academic research help you make your argument?
Conclusion
1.Now that you’ve presented your analysis, tell us what this means.
2.You don’t have to argue one thing or come to a concrete and final conclusion – you can just raise more questions or show how the issue is complex.
Do’s
1.DO include a title – this should be the question you have set yourself.
2.DO analyse your texts in relation to their historical and political context – what is at stake at this particular moment. This requires some research!!!
3.DO refer to the course outline for supplementary readings.
4.DO find out what other academic research has been done in your area.
5.DO refer to the material given on discourse, and discourse analysis. Especially the set readings by Tonkiss and Hall and the lecture slides.
6.DO find your voice – what do you think about this topic? Can you critically engage with media texts?
7.DO include what you analysed in the body of the essay, or as an appendix (appendices not included in word count).
8.DO reference media texts properly.
DON’T
1.DON’T just describe what the texts say or who the celebrity is and what they have done.
2.DON’T attempt to impose a reading onto the text – be rigorous in your analysis.
3.DON’T feel the need to be too conclusive – acknowledge complexity and consider implications.
4.DON’T forget about how discourse is about power!
Required reading:
Raka Shome (2001) White Femininity and the Discourse of the Nation: Re/membering Princess Diana, Feminist Media Studies, 1:3, 323-342, DOI: 10.1080/14680770120088927
Roselind Gill
Plagiarism rate lower than 5%.
