Wu Chen (Chinese, 1280-1354), Manual of Ink – Bamboo, 1350, ink on paper, National Palace Museum, Taipei.
Discourse Analysis is similar to all analysis because it is also looking for specific details within the composition like text and language that image communicates to the viewer. However it is different to the Content Analysis because it does not collect masses of images in the same category. It is also different to the Semiotics because it is not that technical and the core of Discourse Analysis to look for text not the signs. The last difference with Psychoanalysis is that it would not pick sexuality within the imagery as main component for its research. The most disadvantages would be that Discourse Analysis does avoid the setting and environment form where the imagery would be viewed and experienced.
Discourse Analysis would be a good solution for a designer when applied directly to design, meaning that Discourse Analysis is a good way in creating powerful relations within the text in the ad or magazine to attract more viewers. Because this analysis were mostly used in deconstructing the political text for it’s meaning before but now it can be used in reverse to create a powerful growth in the designer career by utilizing this concept.
Unfortunately it is no way to find out what the text in the Chinese image says but we know from history that most artistic compositions used poems in their imagery to describe a feeling or ideas of the artist who drew the painting. It is also known that the poem would mostly include philosophical meaning behind it to create a deeper feel to the whole artwork because people would interpret the message based on their background and cultural differences within Provinces in China. However if you take the message out of the cultural content of the image to the Europe for example, than it might loose its meaning and significance. The seals that are used in the painting would point out on how many people did appreciate it based on the quantity of seals around the image.