Pulling at All Threads: Reflections on Using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis Within Arts-Based Health Research

Multimodal critical discourse analysis is a dynamic approach to qualitative data analysis that expands critical discourse analysis to include multiple communicative modes—such as images, graphics, video, and sound/music—into the semiotic analysis of ideology and power relations within contemporary forms of communication. We reflect on the potential of multimodal critical discourse analysis to be combined with arts-based health research as an analytic method to deconstruct discourses that shape the health and well-being of marginalized communities. Specifically, we frame this potential within our research about men’s body image based a project using cellphilming and the deconstruction of cis-heteronormative and related ideologies.