David Gauntlett (b. 1971) is a sociologist specialising in the study of contemporary media audiences, and the role of media in shaping self-identity. He took his PhD and then taught at the University of Leeds, UK, from 1993 to 2002, then at the age of 31, was appointed Professor of Media and Audiences at the former polytechnic Bournemouth University, UK. In 2006 he joined the School of Media, Arts and Design at the former polytechnic University of Westminster, London, as Professor of Media and Communications. Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar, known as the year of cyclohexanol. ... Sociology (from Latin: socius, companion; and the suffix -ology, the study of, from Greek λόγος, lógos, knowledge [1]) is the systematic and scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social action, and culture[2]. Areas studied in sociology can range from the analysis of brief contacts between anonymous... For other uses, see Audience (disambiguation). ... The University of Leeds is a major teaching and research university, one of the largest in the United Kingdom with over 32,000 full-time students. ... The University of Westminster is a university in London, England, formed in 1992 as a result of the Further and Higher Education Act, 1992, which allowed the London Polytechnic (Polytechnic of Central London or PCL ) to rename itself as a university. ...

His critique of media 'effects' studies sparked controversy in 1995 (see book, article), and since then Gauntlett has published a number of books on the role of popular media in people's lives.

In 2007, he was shortlisted for the 'Young Academic Author of the Year' award in the Times Higher awards ^[1]. This was won by Richard Toye who is Senior Lecturer in History, Exeter University.

New creative research methods

This approach asks participants to make something as part of the research process. Gauntlett's work of this kind began with Video Critical (1997), in which children were asked to make videos about the environment, and then in a number of projects which are discussed in Creative Explorations (2007). As well as studies in which participants have been invited to make video, diaries, collage, and drawings, Gauntlett has explored the use of Lego Serious Play as a tool in sociology and social research. This approach makes use of metaphor and invites participants to build metaphorical models of their identities. For other uses, see Video (disambiguation). ... See Diary (novel) for the novel by Chuck Palahniuk. ... For other uses, see Collage (disambiguation). ... Drawing is one way of making an image: it is the process of making marks on a surface by applying pressure from or moving a tool on the surface. ... Lego Serious Play in action (Photographs: David Gauntlett) Lego Serious Play, an official product of the Lego Group, is a form of business consultancy fostering creative thinking, in which team members build metaphors of their organisational identities and experiences using Lego bricks. ... Sociology (from Latin: socius, companion; and the suffix -ology, the study of, from Greek λόγος, lógos, knowledge [1]) is the systematic and scientific study of society, including patterns of social relationships, social action, and culture[2]. Areas studied in sociology can range from the analysis of brief contacts between anonymous... Social research refers to research conducted by social scientists (primarily within sociology and social psychology), but also within other disciplines such as social policy, human geography, political science, social anthropology and education. ... This article is about metaphor in literature and rhetoric. ...

Gauntlett's ArtLab uses creative and artistic activities as research tools 'to gain an insight into people's relationships with contemporary media culture. Instead of just talking to people in interviews or focus groups, these approaches get participants doing things, as a different way of getting inside their relationship to a particular topic'. The process of making something, and then reflecting upon it, is claimed to give a more nuanced insight into what people feel about an issue. For other uses of Creativity, see Creativity (disambiguation). ... This article is about the philosophical concept of Art. ... interview An interview is a conversation between two or more people where questions are asked to obtain information about the interviewee. ... A focus group is a form of qualitative research in which a group of people are asked about their attitude towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. ... For other uses of Creativity, see Creativity (disambiguation). ... This article is about the psychological process of introspecting. ...

This work has been supported by awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council of £74,000 (in 2007) and £188,000 (in 2008)^[2].

Theoretical tools

His theoretical work on the role of media in the construction of identities (e.g. Media, Gender and Identity) builds on the work of Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault, and postfeminism. The new creative methods build in part experiential and constructionist learning, and on the ideas of Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Paul Ricoeur (see Creative Explorations). Anthony Giddens, Baron Giddens (born January 18, 1938) is a British sociologist who is renowned for his theory of structuration and his holistic view of modern societies. ... Michel Foucault (pronounced ) (October 15, 1926 – June 25, 1984) was a French philosopher, historian and sociologist. ... ... Experiential Learning occurs when individuals engage in some activity, reflect upon the activity critically, derive some useful insight from the analysis, and incorporate the result through a change in understanding and/or behaviour. ... Constructionism (in the context of learning) is the idea that people learn effectively through making things. ... Maurice Merleau-Ponty (March 14, 1908 – May 4, 1961) was a French phenomenologist philosopher, strongly influenced by Edmund Husserl. ... Paul Ricœur (February 27, 1913 Valence France – May 20, 2005 Chatenay Malabry France) was a French philosopher best known for combining phenomenological description with hermeneutic interpretation. ...

Media Studies 2.0

In 2007, Gauntlett published online the article Media Studies 2.0. Aside from discussion at a very few conferences, ^{[3] [4]}. and postings on online discussion boards, this has had very little impact or effect within the academic community. The article argues that the traditional form of media studies teaching and research fails to recognise the changing media landscape in which the categories of 'audiences' and 'producers' blur together, and in which new research methods and approaches are needed. Media Studies is the study of the constitution and effects of media. ...

Online and art projects

Gauntlett produces the well-known media theory website, Theory.org.uk. His other personal projects include A Drawing A Day (ongoing), the Theory Trading Cards (1999-04) and Send Me Stuff (2002).

He also contributes to Wikipedia occasionally.

Bibliography (books)

• Moving Experiences: Understanding Television's Influences and Effects (1995)
• Video Critical: Children, The Environment and Media Power (1997)
• TV Living: Television, Culture and Everyday Life (1999)
• Web.Studies: Rewiring Media Studies For The Digital Age (2000)
• Media, Gender and Identity (2002)
• Web.Studies, second edition (2004)
• Moving Experiences, second edition: Media Effects and Beyond (2005)
• Creative Explorations: New approaches to identities and audiences (2007)
• Media, Gender and Identity, second edition (2008)

External links

• David Gauntlett - Main page with information about books and projects
• Theory.org.uk - Media theory website
• Artlab.org.uk - Website about new creative/visual research
• Building metaphors in Lego - Information about the project

Works available online

• Video Critical - Online version of the 1997 book, with abridged text, and photographs
• Ten things wrong with the media effects model (1998)
• Japanese Cybercultures - Preface to book (2002)
• Articles accompanying the book Media, Gender and Identity including interviews, articles, extended chapter (2002-03)
• Web.Studies introduction chapter (2004)
• Popular Media and Self-Identity: New approaches - Inaugural lecture (2004)
• IAMCR conference paper on using new creative visual research methods to understand the place of popular media in people's lives (2004)
• Using Creative Visual Research Methods to Understand Media Audiences from Medienpädagogik (Media Education), vol. 4, no. 1 (2005)
• Visual Studies interview about new creative methods (2006)
• Interview about Lego Serious Play (2006)
• Media Studies 2.0 (2007)

References

1. ^ Times Higher Educational Supplement, Awards Shortlist, September 2007.
2. ^ Arts and Humanities Research Council, list of research awards
3. ^ British Film Institute, Media Studies Conference 2007, 4-6 July 2007
4. ^ Transforming Audiences International Conference, 6-7 September 2007