When you are asked to read a complex text, use the following strategies to break down the process into manageable chunks.
Preview the text. Do some research on the creator of the text, the subject matter, the context in which it appeared, and anything else that seems important to know before reading it.
Read and annotate the text. Mark up the work (if possible) or take notes as you read, asking questions and making observations.
Summarize the material, explaining the main points concisely and fairly.
Analyze the text. After considering the ideas, assumptions, and evidence in the text, draw conclusions from your overall impression.
You can use these strategies successfully for texts in many media, or look at these guidelines for analyzing visual texts.