Today's lecture was quite specialised in the way that it was preparing us for having to write this years 3000 word essay for the context of practice module, but it was very informative and helpful.
Definition
Critical analysis is an appraisal based on careful analytical
evaluation
Critical analysis is a central process involved in all academic work. It involves hard (critical) thinking which is applying rational and logical thinking while deconstructing the different texts that a person reads
http://uk.ask.com/question/what-is-the-definition-of-critical-analysis
What is Critical Analysis?
We then briefly looked at what critical analysis actually is, how it can be used and how it works. So firstly, what critical analysis actually is:
'In academic terms, critical analysis means considering the claims of theorists, governments, authorities and so on, what they are based on, and how far they seem to apply or be relevant to a given situation'. (University of Sussex Language Institute (1998) Critical Analysis, Argument and Opinion.
Where critical analysis can be used is in a variety of different ways including:
- Its a key skill for writing essays
- It allows you to assess the various ideas and information that you read, and decide whether you want to use them to support your points
- It is something we do everyday when assessing the information around us and making reasoned decision, for example whether to believe the claims made in TV adverts
- It does not always mean disagreeing with something; you also need to be able to explain why you agree with arguments.
So then how does it work? Critical analysis involves carefully considering an idea and weighing up the evidence supporting it to see if it is convincing then being able to explain why you find the evidence convincing or not.It's important to weigh up both sides of the argument.
Bloom's 1956 Hierarchy/Taxonomy of Thinking Skills
This representation of how critical analysis looks is very interesting as it gives a great visual look to it. You aim to get to the top of the pyramid to be able to master critical analysis and gives you something to work for so that you know what level you are currently on as well. This kind of visual representation is used throughout all years of education as well as it is tremulously helpful.
Differences Between Descriptive and Critical Writing
Throughout
education there can be differences between being a descriptive writer
and a critical writer and for our essays this year we should be at a
critical level and apply thinking into this area instead of just
describing what we see. We try to stick to critical writing as it fives more detail and gives reasons and theories behind the argument, and explains why subjects are valid and important. We can use examples of turning descriptive into
critical writing such as:
- Turning 'states what happens' into 'identifying the significance'
- Turning 'explain what a theory says' into 'shows why something is relevant or suitable'
- Turning 'notes the method used' into 'identifies whether it is appropriate or useful'
- Turning 'says when something occurred' into 'identifies why the timing is important'
Examples
We then moved onto looking at some examples of how we can critically analyse pieces of writing or images. The first thing that we looked at was the bombing of The Twin Towers. Due to this being a massive part of my generations history it seemed fitting to use this as an example, even though I was only 7 at the time. When we think of the bombing we can see words such as anti-western terrorism and skyline destroyed, which is the beginning of thinking about it in a critical way. Along side this we were also introduced to an album cover produced by The Coup in early 2001, so before the bombing. We see them standing in front of the twin towers, with a shoddy explosion on it and them holding sound recording equipment and drums sticks. Now, if the twin towers had never been bombed this would have not have caused any trouble, but as it stands they were questioned about it, even though clearly having no involvement in it.
We then lastly looked at Walter Benjamin and his writing 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction' 1936. Written during the era of Nazi Germany meant that Benjamin would have probably have not been particularly well credited as during this time many theorists had to flee to different countries to escape concentration camps. Benjamin, instead of fleeing to the USA he tried his luck in France, but it did not go to well for him and in 1942 he ended up committing suicide.
We then lastly looked at Walter Benjamin and his writing 'The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction' 1936. Written during the era of Nazi Germany meant that Benjamin would have probably have not been particularly well credited as during this time many theorists had to flee to different countries to escape concentration camps. Benjamin, instead of fleeing to the USA he tried his luck in France, but it did not go to well for him and in 1942 he ended up committing suicide.
After speaking about him, we then went onto looking at how we can perceive things, such as artwork from our own homes briefly. Nowadays with the ever growing internet craze we can now produce these things in our own environment. But can this be seen as disappointing? Or is the real thing just as rubbish? It could be said travelling all the way to Paris in France just to see the Mona Lisa, only to be slightly disappointed with the size of it, making it appear almost underwhelming or you could just simply get or book or go on the internet to see the exact same details. It is the same with a band, you could go see them live or just watch the performance at home, again from the internet.
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