Final answer:
The analysis in question is a historical analysis related to biographical analysis, focusing on the cultural and historical contexts of texts as seen in New Historicism. It is interdisciplinary and considers a wide array of cultural factors, encouraging reflection on the author's perspective and the rhetorical situation in interpretive essays.
Step-by-step explanation:
The analysis referred to in the question seems to be a form of historical analysis that is similar to biographical analysis, but with a focus on text or image representation within a larger historical and cultural context. This approach is aligned with the methods of New Historicism, which sees literature and other texts as artifacts that reflect the cultural currents of their time. Instead of focusing solely on major events or figures, this type of analysis considers a wide range of cultural expressions, including the lives of common people, to interpret the significance of a text.
New Historical scholarship is interdisciplinary, drawing on sociology, psychology, and even natural sciences to explore the intricate connections between text and its cultural milieu. For instance, when planning an essay, it's important to present evidence from the text to support your thesis while considering the rhetorical elements—purpose, audience, stance, context, and culture. Comparison and contrast essays extend this further by examining multiple texts to explore a unified theme.
One practice recommended before an interpretive textual analysis is reflecting on one's own perspective, asking questions about identity and how it might inform one's writing. Scholars acknowledge that while bias should be minimized, it can provide valuable insights into the past, such as a renewed focus on historical narratives of ordinary people.