The concept "discourse" and critical analysis

This presentation explores the concept of "discourse" through the lens of critical analysis, emphasizing its role as a social and ideological construct. The theoretical framework combines insights from Michel Foucault, Norman Fairclough, and Sara Mills, with a focus on discourse as both situated utterance and social practice. Key dimensions—textual, discursive, and social—are addressed to reveal how language mediates power relations, constructs identities, and reflects societal norms.

The presentation also deals with interdisciplinary perspectives, examining the epistemic structures that influence discourse and its role in knowledge production. It concludes with a critical discourse analysis, demonstrating the mechanisms through which discourse legitimizes hierarchies and perpetuates social inequalities, ultimately underscoring the transformative potential of uncovering these dynamics.

The presentation was delivered as part of a PhD school course at the Faculty of Humanities, Stockholm University ("Introduction to Linguistic Discourse Analysis").