Context

No text appears out of thin air; rather, each is a product of the context from which it emerges.

Introduction

Studying context allows us to position texts within a wider cultural background. Without this knowledge, it can be difficult to understand the original purpose of a text, and to recognise specific cultural references made by creators to engage their audiences. 

South Park

Let's consider an example of a text that was created in a very specific context.

A 2020 episode of the US cartoon South Park  named "The Pandemic Special" focuses on the impact of the coronavirus on the titular town of South Park. The plot revolves around characters being placed in absurd situations as a result of the virus, with humorous (and gleefully distasteful) results. 

When this episode first aired, audiences were still very much in the grip of the pandemic. Thus, many of the situations and observations in the episode were familiar and relatable. The humour proved effective, and the episode rated well. 

However, imagine audiences watching this episode decades, or even centuries, later. We can expect that as the collective memory of the coronavirus fades, references to social distancing and being stuck in lockdown will have less impact on viewers.

Context, then, is critical to understanding and appreciating the South Park episode "The Pandemic Special".

Understanding Context

In English, we often study texts that were produced in very different contexts to our own. The more we learn about the political, economic and cultural conventions of these contexts, the more we can understand what creators are trying to achieve through their work.

In addition, just as context allows us to better understand texts, so too do texts allow us to better understand context. Studying stories from other cultures and time periods provides a window into these worlds, giving us a broader understanding of what it means to be human. 

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