Definition: What is a “discourse”

Drawing on the works of Foucault, Fairclough, van Dijk and Philo, this post, first, collects discourse definitions used in discourse analysis. On this basis then, second, we suggest a defintion that could be used in our study on global 24/7 TV news channels.

by Antonia Brunet and Alexandra Kößler 

1. Foucault, M. (1994). ‘‘What Is Enlightenment?’’ In: P. Rabinow (ed.), Michel Foucault, Essential Works, Vol. 1, Ethics. Harmondsworth: Penguin.

DISCOURSE = determines what is possible: what can be seen, known and done within the world

“discourse is a social force which has a central role in what is constructed as ‘real’ and therefore what is possible. It determines how the world can be seen and what can be known and done within it. Discourse is thus crucial in explaining how the social subject is positioned and limited.” (p. 176)

2. Fairclough, N. (2012). Critical discourse analysis. International Advances in Engineering and Technology, 7, 452-487

DISCOURSE = category for semiotic elements of social life

  • “Discourses are diverse representations of social life.“ (p. 456)
  • Semiosis = a part of social activity, representations and constitution of identities; constitutes genres, discourses and styles
  • semiosis = component of discourse
  • Order of discourse = semiotic dimension of articulated networks of social practices
  • “Discourses include representations of how things are […], of how things might or could or should be.” (p. 458)

3. Fairclough, N. (2003). Analyzing Discourse. London: Routledge.

DISCOURSE = representing aspects of the material and mental world

“I see discourses as ways of representing aspects of the world – the processes, relations and structures of the material world, the ‘mental world’ of thoughts, feelings, beliefs and so forth” (p. 176)

4. Van Dijk, T. A. (1993). Principles of critical discourse analysis. Discourse & Society, 4(2), 249-283

DISCOURSE = legitimation for certain attitudes, opinions etc.

  • Discourse related to power = the social cognitions of the powerful are both the source and the result of discursive (re)productions
  • “Discursive (re)production of power results from social cognitions of the powerful, whereas the situated discourse structures result in social cognitions.” (p. 259)

5. Philo, G. (2007). Can discourse analysis successfully explain the content of media and journalistic practice? Journalism Studies, 8(2), 175-196

  • DISCOURSE = general or specific statements
  • “It is used abstractly to mean statements in general or to refer to a particular group or type of statements” (p. 176)

6. Two core elements of our very own definition:

  • A discourse is the possible set of statements which are representations of social life.
  • A discourse has the force of social representation and is always related to power.

cloud_discourse

 



Cite this blog post
Michael Meyen (2015, November 23). Definition: What is a “discourse” Global News. Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://globalnews.hypotheses.org/205