This paper is designed to examine Teun A. Van Dijk’s concept of Critical Discourse Analysis in view of racism in the Press. At first it is important to shortly introduce the concept of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) that has been created and discussed by Fowler, Van Dijk and Fairclough. Additionally, one has to define the special kind of racism that is conveyed in the newspapers, and how it succeeds in being almost imperceptible for the reader. Here, one also has to take into consideration in what way racism becomes pivotal concerning society and societal structures. The analysis, that adheres to Van Dijk’s concept, which he introduces and explains in ‘Racism and the Press’, will focus on six main analytical aspects, concerning the newspapers’ headlines, the local semantic structures and semantic strategies, style and rhetoric, subjects and topics, as well as an analysis of quotations patterns. Additionally, it will be explained, how and with which means the Press succeeds in influencing their readers. All examples, which are used in this paper, are taken from van Dijk’s analysis. The possibility of a new investigation would have been attractive and interesting but would definitely go beyond the scope of this paper. By examining and presenting Van Dijk’s concept of analysing and interpreting newspaper articles in order to find constructions of racism, it will in the end make possible to assess the necessity and usefulness of his concept.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Main Part
- 2.1 What is Critical Discourse Analysis?
- 2.2 The significance of the 'new racism'
- 2.3 The role of the media in the reproduction of racism
- 3. Analysis
- 3.1 Headlines
- 3.2 Local semantic structures
- 3.3 Semantic strategies
- 3.4 Style and rhetoric
- 3.5 Subjects and topics
- 3.6 Quotation patterns
- 3.7 The influence of the Press on its readers
- 4. Conclusions and evaluation
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze Teun A. Van Dijk's concept of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as it relates to racism in the press. It explores how CDA can be used to uncover subtle forms of racism in media discourse and examines the mechanisms by which the media contributes to the reproduction of racist ideologies.
- Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and its application to media studies.
- The nature and characteristics of "new racism" as opposed to overt racism.
- The role of media in perpetuating and normalizing racist ideologies.
- Specific analytical techniques for identifying racism in news reporting.
- The influence of media representations on reader perception and attitudes.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by outlining its objective: to examine Teun A. Van Dijk's concept of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in the context of racism within the press. It briefly introduces CDA, defining its scope and methodology, highlighting its focus on uncovering power imbalances and social inequalities within discourse. The chapter also lays out the specific aspects of Van Dijk's framework that will be used in the subsequent analysis, emphasizing the importance of understanding the subtle, "new racism" prevalent in media and its mechanisms for perpetuation.
2. Main Part: This section provides the theoretical foundation for the analysis. It begins by defining CDA, emphasizing its multidisciplinary nature and its focus on how discourse structures create, reinforce, and challenge power relations. The chapter then delves into the concept of "new racism," differentiating it from overt, violent forms of racism. It explains how this subtle, insidious racism operates through seemingly neutral language and representations, maintaining existing power structures while masking its discriminatory intent. Finally, it discusses the crucial role of the media in reproducing this "new racism," acting as a tool for maintaining the hegemony of the dominant group.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), racism, media, press, new racism, power, hegemony, ideology, discourse analysis, social inequality, representation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this paper?
The paper analyzes Teun A. Van Dijk's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework in the context of racism within media discourse. It focuses on how subtle forms of racism, particularly "new racism," are perpetuated and normalized through media representations.
What are the key objectives of this research?
The research aims to demonstrate the application of CDA to media studies, specifically examining how the media contributes to the reproduction of racist ideologies. It seeks to identify specific analytical techniques for uncovering subtle racism in news reporting and analyze the influence of media representations on reader perception and attitudes.
What is Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and how is it applied in this paper?
CDA is a multidisciplinary approach that analyzes how discourse structures create, reinforce, or challenge power relations. In this paper, CDA is used to dissect media texts, identifying linguistic and semantic strategies employed to perpetuate “new racism” and maintain existing power imbalances.
What is "new racism," and how does it differ from overt racism?
"New racism" refers to subtle, insidious forms of racism that operate through seemingly neutral language and representations. Unlike overt, violent forms of racism, "new racism" is often masked and harder to detect, yet equally effective in maintaining existing power structures.
What role does the media play in perpetuating racism, according to this paper?
The paper argues that the media plays a crucial role in reproducing "new racism" by acting as a tool for maintaining the hegemony of the dominant group. It achieves this through subtle linguistic and semantic choices in news reporting, which can normalize and perpetuate racist ideologies without overt expressions of prejudice.
What analytical techniques are used in this paper to identify racism in media texts?
The analysis utilizes a range of techniques from CDA, including examination of headlines, local semantic structures, semantic strategies, style and rhetoric, subjects and topics, quotation patterns, and the overall influence of the press on its readers. These techniques allow for a nuanced understanding of how subtle linguistic choices can contribute to racist discourse.
What are the main chapters and their focus?
The paper is structured into four main chapters: An introduction setting the context and objectives; a main part providing theoretical foundations of CDA and "new racism"; an analysis section applying CDA techniques to media texts; and finally, conclusions and evaluation.
What are the key findings or conclusions of this research (as previewed)?
The preview doesn't provide specific findings, but it suggests that the research will demonstrate the efficacy of CDA in uncovering subtle forms of racism in media discourse and highlight the significant role the media plays in perpetuating racist ideologies through seemingly neutral language and representations.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
The keywords include: Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), racism, media, press, new racism, power, hegemony, ideology, discourse analysis, social inequality, and representation.
- Quote paper
- Alke Eilers (Author), 2005, Teun A. Van Dijk's Concept of 'Racism and the Press', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56988
