David Gauntlett
Encyclopedia
David Gauntlett is a British sociologist
and media theorist. He specialises in the study of contemporary media audience
s, the everyday making and sharing of digital media, and the role of such media in self-identity and self-expression.
in Sociology in 1992. He then took his PhD and then taught at the University of Leeds
from 1993 to 2002, then was appointed Professor of Media and Audiences at Bournemouth University
. In 2006 he joined the School of Media, Arts and Design at University of Westminster
as Professor of Media and Communications.
Gauntlett's critique of media 'effects' studies sparked controversy in 1995, and since then he has published a number of books and research on the role of popular media in people's lives. In particular he has focused on the way in which digital media is changing the experience of media in general.
Since the late 1990s he has produced the website Theory.org.uk.
In Reading Media Theory, Barlow & Mills state: "David Gauntlett is a prominent, public academic, who has spent his career engaging in research activities which have deliberately involved the public, and have crossed the traditional divide between the academic community and the outside world."
In 2007, he was shortlisted for the 'Young Academic Author of the Year' award in the Times Higher awards. (Ultimately the award was won by historian Richard Toye
).
, 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. The process of making
something, and then reflecting
upon it, is claimed to give a more nuanced insight into participants' feelings or experiences.
This work has been supported by awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
educators. 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. Andy Ruddock
has written that Gauntlett's "ironic polemic" includes "much to value", and acknowledges that the argument "is more strategy than creed", but argues that audiences still exist, and experience mass media specifically as audience, and so it would be premature to dispose of the notion of 'audience' altogether.
The inaugural issue of the journal Interactions was dedicated to a discussion of 'Media Studies 2.0', with contributions from a number of experts and a response by Gauntlett.. This journal has only appeared in two issues and now appears defunct.
and in other everyday creative activities will play a role in tackling environmental problems
. These ideas are developed further in 'Making is Connecting'.
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and media theorist. He specialises in the study of contemporary media audience
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
s, the everyday making and sharing of digital media, and the role of such media in self-identity and self-expression.
Career
Gauntlett graduated from the University of YorkUniversity of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
in Sociology in 1992. He then took his PhD and then taught at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
from 1993 to 2002, then was appointed Professor of Media and Audiences at Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University
Bournemouth University is a university in and around the large south coast town of Bournemouth, UK...
. In 2006 he joined the School of Media, Arts and Design at University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
as Professor of Media and Communications.
Gauntlett's critique of media 'effects' studies sparked controversy in 1995, and since then he has published a number of books and research on the role of popular media in people's lives. In particular he has focused on the way in which digital media is changing the experience of media in general.
Since the late 1990s he has produced the website Theory.org.uk.
In Reading Media Theory, Barlow & Mills state: "David Gauntlett is a prominent, public academic, who has spent his career engaging in research activities which have deliberately involved the public, and have crossed the traditional divide between the academic community and the outside world."
In 2007, he was shortlisted for the 'Young Academic Author of the Year' award in the Times Higher awards. (Ultimately the award was won by historian Richard Toye
Richard Toye
Richard Toye is a Professor in the Department of History, University of Exeter, UK. He was previously a Fellow and Director of Studies at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, from 2002 to 2007....
).
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 videoVideo
Video is the technology of electronically capturing, recording, processing, storing, transmitting, and reconstructing a sequence of still images representing scenes in motion.- History :...
, diaries
Diaries
As a proper noun, Diaries, the plural of diary, can refer to:*Diaries: 1971-1976, an 1981 documentary by Ed Pincus*Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years, a 2006 book by Michael Palin...
, collage
Collage
A collage is a work of formal art, primarily in the visual arts, made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole....
, and drawings, Gauntlett has explored the use of Lego Serious Play
Lego Serious Play
Lego Serious Play is a consultant service offered by a LEGO Serious Play Certified Partner. Its goal is fostering creative thinking through team building metaphors of their organizational identities and experiences using Lego bricks...
as a tool in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and social research
Social research
Social research refers to research conducted by social scientists. Social research methods may be divided into two broad categories:* Quantitative designs approach social phenomena through quantifiable evidence, and often rely on statistical analysis of many cases to create valid and reliable...
. This approach makes use of metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
and invites participants to build metaphorical models of their identities. The process of making
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
something, and then reflecting
Introspection
Introspection is the self-observation and reporting of conscious inner thoughts, desires and sensations. It is a conscious and purposive process relying on thinking, reasoning, and examining one's own thoughts, feelings, and, in more spiritual cases, one's soul...
upon it, is claimed to give a more nuanced insight into participants' feelings or experiences.
This work has been supported by awards from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Media Studies 2.0
In 2007, Gauntlett published online the article Media Studies 2.0, which created some discussion amongst media studiesMedia studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
educators. The article argues that the traditional form of media studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
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. Andy Ruddock
Andy Ruddock
Andy Ruddock is a media studies author and academic, currently based at Monash University, Australia. He has previously taught in the US, the UK and New Zealand....
has written that Gauntlett's "ironic polemic" includes "much to value", and acknowledges that the argument "is more strategy than creed", but argues that audiences still exist, and experience mass media specifically as audience, and so it would be premature to dispose of the notion of 'audience' altogether.
The inaugural issue of the journal Interactions was dedicated to a discussion of 'Media Studies 2.0', with contributions from a number of experts and a response by Gauntlett.. This journal has only appeared in two issues and now appears defunct.
Making is Connecting
In 2008 Gauntlett proposed 'the Make and Connect Agenda', an attempt to rethink audience studies in the context of media users as producers as well as consumers of media material. This argues that there is a shift from a 'sit-back-and-be-told culture' to a 'making-and-doing culture', and that harnessing creativity in both Web 2.0Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
and in other everyday creative activities will play a role in tackling environmental problems
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
. These ideas are developed further in 'Making is Connecting'.
External links
- David Gauntlett - Main page with information about books and projects
- Making is Connecting - site about Making is Connecting project, with extracts, video, etc.
- Interview with David Gauntlett - Interview from 2010 book Mashup Cultures