Can writing really do justice to the experience of violence? The art and skill of writing can indeed be used to disseminate various messages and feelings to the target audience in a manner that elicits deep and yet critical thinking. This essay depicts an analysis of different newspaper articles which account for varying case studies. Each of the articles is being justified whether the writing used to convey the message really does justice to the experience of writing.
Narrative analysis refers to the category of perspectives of different types of written texts in which there is a common way of disseminating the story (Cohen & Felson 1979). The construction of narrative analysis is not limited to community movements, corporate organizations, or the scientific world. It is also applicable to other fields of interest (Franzosi 1998). One qualifying factor for a story to possess a narrative analysis is the plot or flow of events and the consequence of the entire event. In the case of the newspaper’s articles analyzed above, the events have been carefully chosen, well arranged, interconnected and harmonized to make a sensible meaning to the target groups or the intended readership of the collection. In the analysis of the newspapers, one aspect of a narrative analysis that has to do with the captivating nature of the storyteller is evident (Denzin &Lincoln1986). Generally, narratives have a way of creating tales most of which attempt to define and possibly the expected ideal world. In the three newspaper articles (Fewster 2010, 1st April, Leys 2010, 2nd April and Wilkinson 2010, 3rd April), quite a number of typologies have been used.
The most common one used is the modern approach to the story which is specifically meant to trigger the audience’s feelings and explore personal experience. This approach does not evaluate in detail the events at hand. Rather, there is more reporting than an assessment of the events (Sacco 1995). Moreover, the newspaper analysis is more of a thematic analysis whereby the details in the text is less to do with methodology, that is what has been spoken is transmitted to the audience as it is. The thematic approach used in the analyses of the newspapers is found to be of importance when theory is to be disseminated from those who participate in research and gather information to the intended group of people (Shoemaker 2006). Additionally, there is coherent evidence structural analysis whereby at one point or the other, the emphasis is redirected from the normal flow of the story. There are notable incidences when language is being given due consideration and the magnitude it deserves (Garland 2001). As the stories are narrated through the victims, they do justice to the experience of violence because an emotional encounter of the stories is felt deep within the readership.
Critical discourse analysis is a category of discourse where in-depth analysis of raw data which basically studies the manner in which social misuse of authority prevails. In this case, taking full totalitarian control and social inequity faces some opposition by the text. Due to such a form of analysis of discourse, researchers in this field usually stand out by taking an obvious open and simplified position. For this reason, critical discourse analysts eventually attempt to expose as well as to oppose the social state of imbalance. In the newspaper analysis, critical discourse writers have attempted to deliberate on quite a number of issues affecting society. This is evident as they critically explore some of the disturbing yet ever-present societal ills like crime. As the crime stories are being reported, there is an inherent social aspect of crime that dominates (Sare1992). Two of the newspaper stories (Murdoch 2010, 3rd April & Smith 2010, 4th April) depict a social problem that is being highlighted.
There is an explicit focus given to social matters compared to modern paradigm shifts and lifestyles. Another critical discourse in the newspapers is the undoubted nature of the stories told which in one way or the other are multidisciplinary (Reiner 2006). Rather than just giving a description of the different structures available in the analysis of the discourse, the writers of the articles attempt to give a detailed explanation of the societal features which deal with how society interacts. Furthermore, the newspaper articles address matters regarding challenges facing society as well as discuss how power is executed in society. The writers have managed to share the experiences because as it is well known, discourse plays the role of harnessing different notions and concepts (Mayring 2000, June). In the plot of the articles, there is a historical approach and perspective which is given due importance. Finally, there is a myriad of analyses on both interpretation and explanation done within the newspaper articles. As the story is narrated through the victim, it does do justice to the experience of violence because the interpretation and in-depth analysis provide a base for expressing argument on matters affecting the society (Faller1987).
The content analysis basically deals with non-written material which is primarily verbal. However, in some instances, both verbal and non-verbal approaches may be applied in executing content analysis (Barker 1984a). This methodology may be used to study individuals, multiple groups, traditional norms, and beliefs or even a systematically recorded flow of events in the past. When this is perfected, both quantitative and qualitative applications may be aptly used. It is also critically significant to acknowledge the need of using and embracing the content and thematic analysis of language samples (Ericson 1991). To be with, language marks the most distinctive origin and channel through which information is transformed at an important entity (Barclay &Tavares1999). This is evident in the four of the articles (AP 2010, 1st April, Ross 2010, 1st April, Wilkinson 2010, 3rd April and Smith 2010, 4th April).
All these articles have one common feature in them; they supply the much-needed information in terms of primary reporting as well as giving a critical analysis of ten same (Keller 2005). The quantitative research methods used in the collection, gathering and eventual analysis of the articles is indeed one that utilises content and to a larger extent, a thematic approach. Apart from the content reporting exhibited in the articles, there is the intermarrying of ideas from the narrative analysis point of view (Dorling 2004). Furthermore, content analysis is being used in the articles to explore the researched work on the crime wave affecting society (Barak 1994). As the story narrated through the victim, it does do justice to the experience of violence because there is a coherent development of theory while at the same time drawing inferences and implications out of the researched crime incidences (Greve 2004).
In summing up this analysis, it is indeed factual beyond any reasonable doubt that the art and skill of writing can do justice to the experience of violence. The newspaper articles analysed above depict how analytical writing can play the primary role of thematic reporting of information as well as give an incisive analysis of the same. Moreover, it is also significant to acknowledge the fact that through the narrative analysis skill depicted by the articles, there is a host of valuable information which is transmitted through the power of writing, and for that reason, writing can do justice to the experience of violence.
Reference List
AP (2010, 1st April). Girl’s horror secret Tell anyone and I’ll kill you, dad warns daughter, Herald Sun, p.1.
Barak, G. (ed.) (1994), Media, Process, and the Social Construction of Crime, New York: Garland.
Barclay, G., and Tavares, C. (1999), Information on the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales: Digest 4, London: Home Office.
Cohen, L., and Felson, S. (1979), ‘Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activities Approach’, American Sociological Review, 44: 588–608. Elton, B. (1996), Popcorn, London: Simon and Schuster.
Dorling, D. (2004), ‘Prime Suspect: Murder in Britain’, in P. Hillyard, C. Pantazis, S. Tombs, and D. Gordon (eds), Beyond Criminology, 178–91, London: Pluto.
Dowsley A, Murphy P, Doherty E with AAP (2010, 2nd April). Brutal killer bailed, now on the run, Herald Sun, p 1.
Ericson, R. (1991), ‘Mass Media, Crime, Law, and Justice’, British Journal of Criminology, 31(3): 219–49. (ed.) (1995), Crime and the Media, Aldershot: Dartmouth.
Faller, L. (1987), Turned to Account: The Forms and Functions of Criminal Biography in Late Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Century England, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Fewster S (2010, 1st April). Blast for Carly’s killer: Rot in hell’ Internet poser had sex, murder on his mind, Herald Sun, pp 1-2.
Franzosi R (1998). Narrative analysis or why (and how) sociologists should be interested in narrative. A R, 24:517-54.
Garland, D. (2001).The Culture of Control, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Greve, W. (2004), ‘Fear of Crime among Older and Younger Adults: Paradoxes and Misconceptions’, in H.-J. Albrecht, T. Serassis, and H. Kania (eds), Images of Crime II, 167–86, Freiburg: Max Planck Institute.
Keller R (2005) Analyzing Discourse. An Approach from the Sociology of Knowledge, FQS. 6 (3). Art. 32.
Leys N (2010, 2nd April). Monster who killed Carly was my ex, Herald Sun, pp1-2.
Mayring, P (2000, June). Qualitative Content Analysis. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research. Web.
Murdoch L (2010, 3rd April). Backpacker killing: new evidence, The Age, p 1.
Reiner R (2006). Media-made criminality: the representation of Crime in the mass media, pp 302-329.
Ross N (2010, 1st April). Judges cut rapist’s term Appeal court rules on robbery, Herald Sun, p.1.
Sacco F V (1995) Media Constructions of Crime, The annals of the American academy, pp 141-153.
Shoemaker J P (2006). News and newsworthiness: A commentary, Communications 31: 105-111.
Smith C (2010, 4th April). I want justice for little Daniel, Herald Sun, pp1-2.
Smith P C (2010). Content analysis and Narrative analysis, chap. 12, pp 313-333.
Wilkinson G (2010, 3rd April) Second-chance thug charged Granny basher on new assault rap, Herald Sun, p1.