Right now, you are being bombarded wirh a lot of information, and almost all of it has an aim. It is crucial you understand these aims, how they are shown, and how to see this. They want you to believe things blindly, I do not.
Let’s use this photo from the BBC as an example:
Step one: What jumps out at you?
Specific words your attention is drawn to
Specific words your attention is not drawn to
What elements of this photo do you concentrate on first?
What elements of this photo do you have to look for?
This one is easier to look out for. Whatever first draws your attention has always done this purposefully. Think about the immediate effect this has on you, and any reason someone may wish to provoke that in you.
Step two: Wording and phrasing:
“Verify”- this use of the word “verify” makes you feel like this is journalism tjst should be undeniably trusted, and that all information presented is factual. This gives the air of genuine legitimacy
“Track”- Imperatives (verbs that are in command form) sre very commonly used as a wsy to make people feel more called to do a specific act. They feel necessary, and make your subconscious want to go through with the suggestion.
“Interactive” and “Including”- these are words that deliberately involve the speaker. This gives and air of inclusion, and makes it feel like an authentic invitation given wirh best interest
This one is harder, but it mainly comes from taking the first element - what jumps out at you - and then thinking exactly why this first jumps out at you, and what these words are serving in the text.
Step three: Literary Techniques:
List of techniques to look for-
Metaphors: direct comparison “It’s like a pigsty in here.” Usually used to dehumanise, or make people have a specific emotional response by associating on with another
Similes:indirect comparison “As blank as blank” “Blank like blank.” Same as a metaphor in effect, but more subtle. Makes the reader feel the conveyed opinion is a suggestion or their own takeaway.
Listing and repetition: “asylum, Visas and Small Boats.” “Bodies, Bodies, Bodies” Lists of three and overly repeated things are very easy to remember. This is done with things rhey want you to think about after you’re done with the article.
Hyperbole: “As hot as hell.” Deliberate exaggeration. Evoking emotional responses Jm the reader through exaggerated and blown up information
Cut off quotes: “Familiarity Breeds contempt” being used in the pro tradwife propaganda speech at nyu. Any quote of context or edited csn be used to push any agenda, even more so when taken from an idolised person.
Rhetorical Questions: “Do you really think that’s okay?” A question not meant to be answered. Gets the reader thinking, usually pushing them towards one conclusion (eg: wirh the example sentence, the suggestion is always “no”)
Hypophora: “Why is it x? Because y!” a question that is immediately answered. Does the thinking for you. Points you to where they want you
Analysis of multimedia requires text and image analysis. A lot of literary techniques have a more subtle/subconscious effect. Literacy is all about becoming aware of this. Pay attention to your emotions and thoughts.
Step four: Presentational devices:
Colour: What colours have been used, and what moods/associations do these colours have? Eg: blue wirh the sea and sadness
Layout: What is in the middle? What’s at the top? What’s hidden to the side? Why is that thr background? Why is the text there in relation to the image?
Image: Why has this image been chosen? What purpose does it have? Would I trust this person to see? Why is this person shown wearing these clothes? Why is this landscape shown in these colours? Why is this person shown doing Rhis activity? Why this photo specifically?
Text: Where is it? What colour is it? What style is it? Is it underlined/bold/italics? Is it bigger or smaller than another object? Which text is being highlighted?
Now put it into practice: What is the difference between how these two have been presented?
Dressed in smart clothing; button up and blazer, with glasses and well done hair. Makes him appear respectable
Serious expression: he is not trivialised, he looks like he is mid conversation. This makes him seem respectable, but not a great authority figure. The picture looks candid, like an interview.
Focus: he is the only thing in focus in this photo. All you are meant to look at is him.
Colour: he is dressed in all black and white, giving off an air of elegance and prestige
Language: “Claims” “investigate” all of these are deniable. Combined with the presentation of him in a suit with a candid, intellectual manner, this all seems like he is caught up in it, and he couldn’t possibly be. He is also named with his title, another attempt to make him more respectable.
Mandelson, is an ally of Epstein and funnelled private data during the financial crisis to him. The police are mentioned first wirh all the verbs, painting him as the object and not subject.
Compared to the immigrants:
All dressed in tracksuits: typical image of lower class, “rough” men of colour in the British popular culture.
The crates make you think of prisons, with the bars in particular focus. The facial blurring is used to the effect of drawing your focus away from the men to the lorry contents.
The people smugglers are the subject, not the object of the sentence. “Charged” “arrests” versus “Investigate” “claims” causes one to be painted as more guilty
