How important is textual analysis in research PDF

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Charlie Barton How important is textual analysis in research? Textual analysis is an important way for researchers to gather information about a topic. Catherine Belsey immediately opens her essay by stating ‘My contention is that textual analysis is indispensable to research in cultural criticism. . .’ By this, she means that textual analysis is absolutely necessary when generating research, that she feels it cannot be done without it. Elaborating to state that no matter what the type of criticism, and any other piece of work that analyses or aims to come to an understanding needs textual analysis to function correctly. She shows that textual analysis is not as simple as quick assumptions, it needs a more in-depth range of field than a quick glance over a text of picture, it needs analysis of the minor details in order to make sense. Explaining this through a painting symbolising rape, then adapting to discover other view upon the colour use, and clothing choices, making the picture represent a whole other range of ideals supported by evidence.

What is it? Textual analysis is a methodology that involves understanding language, symbols, and/or pictures present in texts to gain information regarding how people make sense of and communicate life and life experiences. Later in the essay, Belsey describes research as a supposed of originality, however, believes it to be an assembly of ideas that have not been brought together in such a way before. It is suggested that a secondary source is helpful during research, yet textual analysis differs ‘in terms of the way we conceptualise the role of a third party’. She suggests that people make their own opinion about anything, they generally come to a conclusion based on what they see, and everyone’s opinion differs slightly. Although they can come to a general context, which is up for analysis. People create opinion depending on other things they have read or seen, for example in this piece she draws on feminist research. She claims research is more than just making an observation, it is drawing on other resources which can collaborate to create a new meaning, coming together to create results.

How is it done? Understanding the relationship and process of interpretation between the reader and a text, she suggests that texts may have their own internal dialogue, yet they also create a dialogue with the reader. She argues that traditional text is invalid when it states that texts ‘force’ people to change their opinion, or to see things in a certain way. Instead believing that we should adopt a critical viewpoint to agree that texts offer us a different view, rather than force us to have it. They enable the viewer to see things from different perspectives, without making a rational decision upon which is correct. She suggests the view that serious textual analysis is dependent on the view others receive from it, and not at the individuals disposal; that things revel in importance depending on the reach they achieve, expanding to state someone can make up words or code as long as others can understand them. The importance of it is achieved when many understand what is being created. Meaning is always plural, individual interpretation is dependant, people hear what they want to hear and generate response based on what they do hear, as opposed to what was legitimately said the analysis comes from a bulk of similar responses. She continues to say that even explicit texts can be broken down, when someone inserts a quote to fit

Charlie Barton what they are trying to say, they lose the legitimate meaning of what is actual being said, to bring about a new meaning of what they want it to say.

What difference does it make? Textual analysis makes a huge difference in research, it allows for a much wider and broader search of research and understanding. It doesn’t just analyse the content, but the structure and wider understanding while formulating a whole new understanding of the text itself. Belsey argues that there is never one explicit meaning to something, and it cannot come to an ultimate conclusion as there is always things to add to the research with textual analysis as it can continue to be explored thoroughly through all possible avenues....