Analysis of Audiovisual Texts of Public Service Announcements: Approaches and Methodology

Dostoevsky Omsk State University, 644077 Prospekt Mira, 55-A, Omsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: malenovae@mail.ru

Abstract

This research describes the approaches and methodology of analysis of public service announcements (PSAs) created in the audiovisual (AV) format. Recently, PSAs have become an important tool used to adjust current social behaviour models and to bring forward the maladies of the modern society. To increase PSAs’ persuasive potential, their authors use different creative forms and solutions. This research analyses different ways to understand the essence of AV texts, suggests the methodology of AV PSAs’ analysis and presents the results of an experimental verification of the methodology described. The methodology of the analysis provided may be used to analyse other types of AV texts, including TV-commercials, creative AV productions, documentaries, etc. It can also be applied in the frameworks of the AV translation process. The main results of the research are presented as an analysis algorithm consisting of several consecutive steps that may help to understand the PSA author’s original intention, its persuasive potential, and to predict the recipients’ reaction.