During the seminar “Critical Discourse Analysis: Text and Discourse” there were various fields of application mentioned. Bureaucracy was a very interesting one, as it is nearly an everyday necessity, especially living in Germany. The use of bureaucratic language does not only occur in institutional contexts, but “may enter and take over the discourse practices of other domains”*, e.g. the correspondence in business companies. Since all citizens can tell their own story of a bureaucratic incident and therefore can relate to such problems, the movie-scene analyzed is a well remembered one.
The thesis in hand will first give an overview about the material and present a summary of the noted movie-scene to afford a basis for the following analysis. That will concern the information exchange with clients and inside the institution, as well as the role behaviour in bureaucratic discourse. At last, it closes with some final words and the credits.
*See Sarangi / Slembrouck (1996), p. 34.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Material and Motivation
- II.A Why Did I Choose an Asterix Movie?
- II.B Summary of 'The Place That Sends You Mad'
- III. Bureaucracy in 'The Place That Sends You Mad'
- III.A Information Exchange with Clients
- III.B Information exchange inside the institution
- III.C Role behaviour in bureaucratic discourse
- IV. Conclusion
- V. Picture credits
- VI. Bibliography
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The objective of this work is to analyze bureaucratic discourse using a scene from the Asterix movie "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix" as a case study. The analysis focuses on the communication patterns and role behaviors within the bureaucratic setting, drawing on principles of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).
- Information exchange in bureaucratic settings
- Role behavior and power dynamics in bureaucratic interactions
- The use of language to create and maintain bureaucratic systems
- The portrayal of bureaucracy as an absurd and frustrating system
- Application of CDA to analyze everyday instances of bureaucratic discourse
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
I. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis by explaining the choice of the Asterix movie scene as a relevant case study for exploring bureaucratic discourse. It highlights the prevalence of bureaucracy in everyday life, particularly in Germany, and introduces the CDA framework applied in the study. The chapter outlines the structure of the thesis, promising an overview of the material, a summary of the chosen scene, an analysis of information exchange and role behavior within the bureaucratic discourse depicted, and concluding remarks. The author’s personal connection to the chosen material is also mentioned, linking it to a previous group presentation on CDA and bureaucracy.
II. Material and Motivation: This chapter justifies the selection of a scene from the Asterix movie "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix" as the analytical material. It emphasizes the movie's popularity and the scene's relevance in illustrating exaggerated yet recognizable bureaucratic practices. The chapter connects the scene to the broader narrative of the film, highlighting its inclusion within the "twelve tasks" storyline inspired by Heracles' labors, establishing the scene’s context within the overarching plot. It explains that this scene, focusing on obtaining a permit in a comically inefficient office, serves as a potent representation of bureaucratic processes for analysis, and also relates the author's decision to analyze this particular scene to its accessibility and impact on the audience.
III. Bureaucracy in 'The Place That Sends You Mad': This chapter delves into the core analysis, examining information exchange and role behavior within the chosen bureaucratic setting. It focuses on the communication dynamics between clients (Asterix and Obelix) and the institution, highlighting the power imbalance and lack of transparency within the system. The chapter analyzes how the institution controls the flow of information, making it difficult for clients to navigate the process. This is achieved through examining instances where information is withheld, misdirected, or obfuscated. Specific examples from the scene, such as the multiple forms required and the unhelpful interactions with clerks, are used to support the analysis. The chapter illustrates how the bureaucratic setting reinforces the power of the institution over individuals navigating its systems.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Bureaucracy, Information Exchange, Role Behavior, Power Dynamics, Institutional Discourse, Language, Asterix, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, Film Analysis, Communication, Power Imbalance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Bureaucratic Discourse in "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix"
What is the main objective of this academic work?
The main objective is to analyze bureaucratic discourse using a scene from the Asterix movie "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix" as a case study. The analysis focuses on communication patterns and role behaviors within a bureaucratic setting, utilizing principles of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA).
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
Key themes include information exchange in bureaucratic settings, role behavior and power dynamics in bureaucratic interactions, the use of language to create and maintain bureaucratic systems, the portrayal of bureaucracy as an absurd and frustrating system, and the application of CDA to analyze everyday instances of bureaucratic discourse.
Which Asterix movie and scene are analyzed?
The analysis focuses on a scene from the movie "The Twelve Tasks of Asterix," specifically the scene where Asterix and Obelix attempt to obtain a permit in a comically inefficient office. This scene is chosen for its clear depiction of exaggerated yet recognizable bureaucratic practices.
Why was this particular scene chosen for analysis?
The scene's popularity, relevance in illustrating bureaucratic processes, accessibility, and impact on the audience contributed to its selection. Its inclusion within the broader narrative of the film, inspired by Heracles' labors, also provides valuable context.
What is the methodology used in this analysis?
The analysis employs the framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine the communication dynamics and power imbalances within the bureaucratic setting depicted in the chosen scene.
What aspects of bureaucratic discourse are analyzed?
The analysis examines information exchange between clients (Asterix and Obelix) and the institution, highlighting power imbalances and lack of transparency. It also explores how the institution controls the flow of information and analyzes specific examples from the scene, such as multiple forms and unhelpful interactions with clerks, to support the analysis.
What are the chapter summaries?
The work includes an introduction setting the stage for the analysis, a chapter justifying the choice of the Asterix scene, a core analysis chapter examining information exchange and role behavior, a conclusion, picture credits, and a bibliography.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Bureaucracy, Information Exchange, Role Behavior, Power Dynamics, Institutional Discourse, Language, Asterix, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, Film Analysis, Communication, and Power Imbalance.
What is the overall structure of the document?
The document provides a comprehensive language preview including a title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
- Quote paper
- Katharine Pusch (Author), 2009, CDA and 'The Place That Sends You Mad', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/125849
