In Media Analysis Techniques, the author offers clear, concise explanations of the four basic perspectives - Marxist, psychoanalytic, semiological and sociological - that can be usefully applied to the critical analysis of texts. Each approach is presented with enough detail to allow students to conduct their own analyses of various popular media and other texts.
A great introduction to several key concepts that weren't taught to us in Mass Communication class. I am able to now examine a single piece of work through some important perspectives, seeing it for all that it is and isn't. The latter gives a more valuable insight than the former, I learnt. Wish I could have been in a classroom environment again with these concepts covered in depth. It would have certainly been a fruitful experience that would have furthered my understanding of media and the world. But oh well. Thank you to my supportive bestest of friends for giving me this read <3
Decent introductory overview of key concepts. Written in a very approachable style. Fun little illustrations to break it up as you go.
Best resource I think is the extensive annotated bibliographies should any of the main themes really strike a chord and you are driven to learn more ( or need to learn more as the case would be).
The author includes some fun exercises at the end to demonstrate some of the analytic techniques he discusses.
I read this as a part of a "Race and the Media" class back in 2013. It can be a little verbose, and boring, but does a good job at explaining the key concepts.It completely changed the way I looked at the media and intent versus portrayal. I am reading it again for my thesis. The illustrations are pretty quirky.