ANALYZING

INTERSECTING
THEORETICAL
PROCESSES
Textual Analysis
Textual analysis in media research is defined as “a
method for closely and critically examining and
interpreting the meanings of culture, including
architecture, fashion, books, movies, and TV
programs.” This entails “close reading and
interpretation of cultural messages, including those
found in books, movies, and TV programs.”
Furthermore, textual analysis “looks at rituals,
narratives, and meaning.”
Audience Studies
is defined as a kind of “cultural studies research
that focuses on how people use and interpret cultural
content.” Sometimes referred to as reader-response
research, this field concerns how audiences may have
processed, understood, and digested such meanings
they decoded from the media.
Political Economy Studies
is “an area of academic study that specifically examines
interconnections among economic interests, political power, and how that
power is used.” When we consider the varied business interests, and
concerns of corporate media conglomerates and the varies creative
industries they serve in the MIL processes, we are generally looking at the
political economy of media.

Academic MIL practitioners suggest that “political economy studies work

best when combined with textual analysis and audience studies, which
provide context for understanding the cultural content of a media product,
its production processes, and how the audience responds.”
 APPLYING
THE
MIL THEORY
INTO
ANALYSIS
Basic Assumption Basic Questions
Of For
MIL Analysis
• What is the message of this media creation?
• Is this message a positive one? How so?
• Is this message a negative one? How so?
• Is this message hopeful? How so?
Message • Is this message harmful? How so?
• Is this message confusing or convoluted? How so?
• Is there more than one message here? If so, what are they?
• Was it easy to understand the message? Why or why not?

• Is the work very enjoyable? Why or why not?

• Is the work repulsive? Why or why not?
• Is the work aesthetically or technically alienating for you? How so?
• Did it use appropriate visuals/texts/images? Why or why not?
• Did the technical elements make you appreciate the subject matter more? Why or why
not?
Form + Content
• What are the technical elements that helped construct the media message?
• What are the artistic elements that helped construct the media message?
• Are there any technical or artistic elements missing from this media product’s creation?
What are those, if any?
Basic Assumption of MIL Basic Questions for Analysis

• Are you satisfied as a viewer/reader/listener with the media product? Why or

why not?
• Did this work please/offend you in any way or any aspect? Explain.
Audience Reactions
• Did this work make you feel good/bad about yourself? How so?
• Did this work make you feel good/bad about the subject matter or topic
discussed? How so?
• Thinking about the main message/s of the media work, do you detect specific
values being promoted by it?
• Are those values intentional or accidentally there? Why do you think so?
• Are the values directly linked to the message constructed, or is it totally
Values different? Explain.
• How do you think these values could affect the viewer/reader/listener?
Explain.
• Do these values influence your behavior directly or indirectly? In what
manner? Explain.
Basic Assumption of MIL Basic Questions for Analysis

• Why do you think the media practitioners made this media

product in this way and manner?
• Who do you think is the audience of this media product?
• Was it appropriate for them? How so?
• Do you think you are the main audience or the secondary
audience of this media product? How come?
Purposes + Implications • What do you think is the main intention of this media product?
• What do you think is the purpose of this media product?
Print Media
When looking at print media, we need to take
a closer look at three things: the image, the text,
and the combination of both. We need to see if
the thoughts and information carried within the
text are credible enough. If it is misleading or
obviously biased toward something or someone,
then we also need to understand why that is so.
Audio-based Media
When we analyze audio-based media, we have to delineate between
radio broadcasts and music productions.
Radio broadcasts may be fleeting and fast, depending on the kind of
radio show you listen to. That is why approach in scrutinizing this shows
mostly concerned looking at the broadcasters themselves.
Television
For television, the specifics to look out for still concern
the basics, namely the genres, the artists, the program series,
and the per episode analysis.
Genres
Separate between informational programming and
entertainment programming. If there is a merging of styles,
analyze under infotainment programming. For specific
subgenres, analyze according to the subgenre’s aesthetics
(e.g, news magazine shows, public affairs shows, reality TV
shows, talent competition shows, etc.).
Personalities
Focus on specific careers of unknown TV
personalities by looking at their body of work in
television.
Program series
Analyze the series by framing it within the
genre where it belongs. Identify the themes of
the show ad the messages being relayed by such
themes.
Per episode
When making a deeper analysis of a TV show
and the world it presents, you can start by
looking deeper at the show’s representation or
characters, the presence of stereotype, and how
they influence our personal narratives.
Film
As in television, there are also specifics to look out for in film.

The following are the specifics you may look into:

Genres
Genres cross over specific cultures and eras of
production (e.g., 1950s horror films and Asian horror
films comparison, etc.). You could analyze genres
and subgenres according to their technical aesthetics,
their story concepts, their presentation of
characterization, and the prevailing industry norms or
cultural trends that influence particular genres at
particular eras or generations.
Motifs
A motif is defined as “a recurring subject, theme or idea, a distinctive and recurring
form, shape or figure in a design, or a dominant idea or feature.” see if the particular
film has motifs being woven in the narrative and investigative further.
Symbolisms
The objects, subjects, their placement and
locations, the color used, and the way they are lighted
(or not lighted) could suggest meanings within a
film’s scene. Investigate whether such meanings
carry specific ideas, ideologies, tenets, or concepts
the filmmakers embedded within their creation. Ask
yourself if you are decoding their messages correctly.
THANK YOU!
QUIZ