Textual analysis for the research investigation

Introduction to the task:

A form of secondary research is textual analysis.  The exam board suggest that you focus on ‘one but more usually two or more’ texts when conducting your research investigation.

The texts that you choose must be the core of your investigation and will be used for primary research also as you will ask audiences about them.

Therefore, they need to be ‘rich’ texts, meaning that they must offer a lot for you to discuss.

You choose your texts and then de-construct them to analyse meanings and messages

An example will be used to explain the methodology

The exam board want you to go from the ‘specific to the general’ so pick five key scenes in the video to illustrate your points and use screenshots in your final written piece.

What should be done:

You must choose a ‘rich’ text.  In this example we are focusing on representation of gender in music videos, therefore I will choose ‘Bad Romance’ by Lady Ga-Ga.

Begin by watching the text and making notes about messages and values. You can do this as a mind-map.

Create a table as below and organise your thoughts into a detailed de-construction of the text

The music videos of artists such as Lady Ga-Ga are eagerly awaited by cultural commentators and fans and there are web-sites which offer readings of the texts which might help you.

Before you do so it is important to make your own connections and observations.

Once you have completed a table and decided what the messages and meanings are then you can organise a written response of approximately 300 words. Use screenshots to illustrate your points.