Att förklara människan : Diskurser i populärvetenskapliga TV-program
(2009)- Abstract
- The principle aim of the study is to describe, analyze and problemize the ways in which television science documentaries (within a public service context) discursively represent scientific theories, research results and conclusions about the origins of human nature and the causes of human behavior. The study covers 25 programs broadcasted by SVT and UR during a period of four years, 2002-2005, and 12 additional programs are used as a basis for discussion. Most of the programs included in the study are productions purchased mainly from BBC Science. Thus, managing editors, producers and presenters were interviewed for the purpose of illuminating quality judgements and purchasing criteria.
A five stage-model of critical discourse... (More) - The principle aim of the study is to describe, analyze and problemize the ways in which television science documentaries (within a public service context) discursively represent scientific theories, research results and conclusions about the origins of human nature and the causes of human behavior. The study covers 25 programs broadcasted by SVT and UR during a period of four years, 2002-2005, and 12 additional programs are used as a basis for discussion. Most of the programs included in the study are productions purchased mainly from BBC Science. Thus, managing editors, producers and presenters were interviewed for the purpose of illuminating quality judgements and purchasing criteria.
A five stage-model of critical discourse analysis has inspired the method which emphasizes the network of communicative practices in which the media text and representation are embedded. That includes media genre, production and narrative conventions as well as the wider historical, social and political/ideological context and discourse practices of which the issues represented are a part. The critical discourse analysis has been complemented by ideas about different documentary modes of representation or basic ways of organizing documentary texts in relation to certain recurrent features or conventions. In the analysis these modes have been applied to understand the degree of transparency and editorial presence and visibility in the science documentaries.
The importance of the discourses presented is related to their more applied meanings. When certain descriptions, explanations and understandings of alleged human “basics” gain priority, it may affect the possibilities to define and handle very concrete social issues in a way that is inconsistent with this fundamental perspective. Thus, the ideological function of the science documentaries (as public service-program and educational media) deserves serious attention. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1472669
- author
- Nilsson, Malin LU
- supervisor
- opponent
-
- Professor Engblom, Lars-Åke, Högskolan för lärande och kommunikation, Jönköping
- organization
- alternative title
- Explaining the Human Being : Discourses in popular science television programs
- publishing date
- 2009
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- public service broadcasting, human behavior, human nature, popular science, science documentaries, science on television, Media analysis, discourse analysis, science and the media
- pages
- 252 pages
- publisher
- Lund University
- defense location
- Lingvisthuset 201, Språk- och Litteraturcentrum, Lunds universitet
- defense date
- 2009-10-02 10:00:00
- ISBN
- 91-7267-296-x
- language
- Swedish
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 33253e28-c1dd-45f9-8af3-ea33739e059a (old id 1472669)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 13:18:40
- date last changed
- 2021-11-17 11:35:54
@phdthesis{33253e28-c1dd-45f9-8af3-ea33739e059a,
abstract = {{The principle aim of the study is to describe, analyze and problemize the ways in which television science documentaries (within a public service context) discursively represent scientific theories, research results and conclusions about the origins of human nature and the causes of human behavior. The study covers 25 programs broadcasted by SVT and UR during a period of four years, 2002-2005, and 12 additional programs are used as a basis for discussion. Most of the programs included in the study are productions purchased mainly from BBC Science. Thus, managing editors, producers and presenters were interviewed for the purpose of illuminating quality judgements and purchasing criteria. <br/><br>
A five stage-model of critical discourse analysis has inspired the method which emphasizes the network of communicative practices in which the media text and representation are embedded. That includes media genre, production and narrative conventions as well as the wider historical, social and political/ideological context and discourse practices of which the issues represented are a part. The critical discourse analysis has been complemented by ideas about different documentary modes of representation or basic ways of organizing documentary texts in relation to certain recurrent features or conventions. In the analysis these modes have been applied to understand the degree of transparency and editorial presence and visibility in the science documentaries. <br/><br>
The importance of the discourses presented is related to their more applied meanings. When certain descriptions, explanations and understandings of alleged human “basics” gain priority, it may affect the possibilities to define and handle very concrete social issues in a way that is inconsistent with this fundamental perspective. Thus, the ideological function of the science documentaries (as public service-program and educational media) deserves serious attention.}},
author = {{Nilsson, Malin}},
isbn = {{91-7267-296-x}},
keywords = {{public service broadcasting; human behavior; human nature; popular science; science documentaries; science on television; Media analysis; discourse analysis; science and the media}},
language = {{swe}},
publisher = {{Lund University}},
school = {{Lund University}},
title = {{Att förklara människan : Diskurser i populärvetenskapliga TV-program}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3293013/1472670.pdf}},
year = {{2009}},
}