Textual Analysis and Media Research Ethics

These flashcards provide definitions for key theories, terminology, and ethical guidelines discussed in the textual analysis lecture, covering Bordwell's levels of meaning, mise-en-scène, and research ethics.

Textual Analysis

A methodology and data-gathering process used to gather information about how various members of cultures and subcultures make sense of who they are and how they fit into the world (McKee, $2003$).

Interpretation

The work of thought consisting of "deciphering the hidden meaning in the apparent meaning, in unfolding the levels of meaning implied in the literal meaning" (Ricoeur, $1970$).

Comprehension

The process concerned with understanding the apparent, manifest, or direct meanings within a text (Bordwell, $1989$).

Meaning Making

A process where meanings are not found but made by the perceiver's transformative acts, including "bottom-up" automatic psychological processes and "top-down" conceptual ones (Bordwell, $1989$).

Style

Defined by Bordwell as the "patterned use of a medium’s techniques" and referred to as "the how that produces the what of media texts."

Referential Meaning

One of the four levels of meaning identifying what a film directly refers to in the real world (Bordwell, $1989$).

Explicit Meaning

One of the four levels of meaning describing the obvious narrative message of a media text.

Implicit Meaning

One of the four levels of meaning involving the deeper symbolic interpretation of a text.

Symptomatic Meaning

One of the four levels of meaning revealing what a text shows about wider ideology and society.

Mise-en-scène

The contents of the frame and how they are arranged, including elements like lighting, costume, colour, props, décor, space, and framing (Gibbs, $2002$).

Soundtrack Elements (Chion)

Components of the audio layer consisting of voice and dialogue, spot effects and Foley, atmospheres and backgrounds, silence, and musical score.

Technophobic/technophiliac beauty

A term from Redmond ($2016$) describing the "terrifying beauty" in Blade Runner ($1982$) where technology is simultaneously gorgeous and inescapable.

The Rezort ($2015$)

A British zombie film used as a case study by Audissino ($2024$) to interpret socio-political metaphors regarding refugees and the migration crisis.

Nuremberg Code

A foundation of modern research ethics established in $1947$ following Nazi experiments, mandating voluntary informed consent and the responsibility to avoid harm.

Informed Consent

An ethical requirement ensuring that participation is voluntary and participants are provided with full information and the right to withdraw at any time.

Collective Ethics Approval

A specific university approval process that covers low-risk student projects like textual analysis of films, television, and public social media accounts.