Abstract
In operating with quite an abstract approach to 'discourse', cultural studies has hardly engaged in detailed textual analyses examining the role of language and discourse in the constitution of cultural processes. By focusing on an area of concern for contemporary cultural studies such as the discursive construction of subject positions, this paper casts light on the instrumental role that critical discourse analysis (henceforth CDA) may play as an analytical resource for cultural studies. In particular, we highlight how detailed textual analyses undertaken by CDA may contribute to deciphering the role of language and discourse in the articulation of cultural practices of identity representation and construction in media discourse. After revising the coincidences on the agendas of CDA and cultural studies, a case study follows exploring the discursive construction of such a subject position on masculinity as the so- called 'new man' in a sample from men's magazines' problem pages as a characteristic popular-culture genre in contemporary Britain. Our analysis substantiates the validity of Fairclough's CDA framework for disentangling the mechanisms of identity construction in this genre of present-day media discourse in the UK.
Highlights
In operating with quite an abstract approach to 'discourse', cultural studies has hardly attempted to disentangle how linguistic-discursive dimensions work in the constitution of Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses cultural processes and phenomena by undertaking detailed analyses of actual discourse (Grossberg, 1997; Barker and Galasinski, 2001; Barker, 2002)
After revising the coincidences on the agendas of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and cultural studies, a case study will follow exploring the discursive construction of such a masculinity subject position as the so-called 'new man' in a sample from men' s magazines' problem pages as a characterisíic popular-culture genre in contemporary Britain
While often invoking discourse as a key element in the construction of cultural practices, cultural studies has barely engaged in detailed textual analyses of actual discourse, which has led cultural fheorists like Barker to recommend learning from disciplines such as discursive psychology and critical discourse analysis "by deploying the tools of micro-linguistic analysis to show just how 'social construction' is achieved in the flow of everyday speech and interaction" (2002: 44)
Summary
In operating with quite an abstract approach to 'discourse', cultural studies has hardly attempted to disentangle how linguistic-discursive dimensions work in the constitution of Revista Alicantina de Estudios Ingleses cultural processes and phenomena by undertaking detailed analyses of actual discourse (Grossberg, 1997; Barker and Galasinski, 2001; Barker, 2002). By focusing on an área of concern for contemporary cultural studies such as the discursive construction of subject positions, this paper means to cast light on the instrumental role that critical discourse analysis ( CDA) may play as an analytical resource for cultural studies. After revising the coincidences on the agendas of CDA and cultural studies, a case study will follow exploring the discursive construction of such a masculinity subject position as the so-called 'new man' in a sample from men' s magazines' problem pages as a characterisíic popular-culture genre in contemporary Britain. Our analysis will substantiate the valididy of Fairclough's CDA framework - as implemented in the case study - for examining this process of identity construction in this genre of contemporary media discourse in the UK
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