And now for the good news!

Discourse analysis is a flavor of content analysis that answers questions about content that isn't there -- say, the social and cultural assumptions that have to be in place for your "objective" evidence to make sense. If you've been wondering why the world drawn by the front pages of the party press* looks so strange, that's one explanation.

Don't be rude, you guys. No doubt Earth looks just as strange to them.

* Chronicled regularly of late by The Ridger.