Oh, Interrogating TEXTS

So I jumped the gun a little bit on this assignment, but now I totally get how to read the due dates on the Moodle site.

I spoke in class about how in academic jargon (at least in my experience in the Cultural Studies paradigm) the term "text" refers to any artifact which can be "read". Appropriately enough, the term "read" is loaded in the same lexicon (herein it refers to analyzing and interrogating within context) This provides a perfect example of the generation of knowledge, and conveniently aligns with this blog's theme. It seems fair to deduce that in developing definitions for the same words in different contexts, empirical knowledge is malleable. Therefore, when approaching a "text", it is imperative to take into consideration the context in which that text exists.

Take this Covergirl ad for example:

When being read from the context of a typical female consumer, this ad can be read as a hilarious attempt at altruism by the cosmetics industry to let women "enhance their beauty" while maintaining a natural appearance

When read from a feminist standpoint, it can be viewed as an appropriation of feminist ideology wherein Covergirl is valiantly defending our sex in the war of superficiality.

And when read from the context of a male consumer...I have no idea, why don't you fill in the blank for me, fellas?

In my opinion (for what it's worth), a serious consideration of who is generating the knowledge that we deem empirical is essential to being an informed member of society who can then be defensive toward, for lack of a better term, mind control.