David Gauntlett

David Gauntlett (b. March 15, 1971) is a social science specialising in the study of contemporary media audience, 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 2001. He was appointed Professor of Media and Audiences at Bournemouth University, UK, at the age of 31, in 2001.

His critique of media effects studies sparked controversy in 1995 (see [http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book1.htm book], [http://www.theory.org.uk/david/effects.htm article]), and since then Gauntlett has published a number of books on the role of popular media in people s lives.

=New creative research methods=

This approach asks participants to make something as part of the research process. The [http://www.artlab.org.uk Art Lab] uses creativity and art 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 group, these approaches get participants doing things, as a different way of getting inside their relationship to a particular topic. The process of creativity something, and then introspection upon it, is claimed to give a more nuanced insight into what people feel about an issue.

Previous studies have invited participants to make video, diaries, collage, and drawings. In 2005-06 Gauntlett is exploring the use of Lego Serious Play as a tool in sociology and social research.

=Theoretical tools=

His theoretical work on the role of media in the construction of identities (e.g. [http://www.theoryhead.com/gender Media, Gender and Identity]) builds on the work of Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault, and Post-feminist. The new creative methods build in part experiential learning and constructionist learning, and on the ideas of Maurice Merleau-Ponty.

=Online and art projects=

Gauntlett produces the well-known media theory website, [http://www.theory.org.uk/ Theory.org.uk]. His other personal projects include [http://www.artlab.org.uk/drawing/ A Drawing A Day] (ongoing), the [http://www.theorycards.org.uk/ Theory Trading Cards] (1999-04) and [http://www.theory.org.uk/postal/ Send Me Stuff] (2002).

He also contributes to Wikipedia occasionally - see his .

=Bibliography (books)=

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book1.htm Moving Experiences: Understanding Television s Influences and Effects] (1995)

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book2.htm Video Critical: Children, The Environment and Media Power] (1997)

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book3.htm TV Living: Television, Culture and Everyday Life] (1999)

[http://www.newmediastudies.com/ Web.Studies: Rewiring Media Studies For The Digital Age] (2000)

[http://www.theoryhead.com/gender Media, Gender and Identity] (2002)

[http://www.newmediastudies.com/ Web.Studies, second edition] (2004)

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book7.htm Moving Experiences, second edition: Media Effects and Beyond] (2005)

=External links=

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david David Gauntlett] - Main page with information about books and projects

[http://www.theory.org.uk Theory.org.uk] - Media theory website

[http://www.artlab.org.uk Artlab.org.uk] - Website about new creative/visual research

=Works available online=

[http://www.artlab.org.uk/videocritical Video Critical] - Online version of the 1997 book, with abridged text, and photographs

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/effects.htm Ten things wrong with the media effects model] (1998)

[http://www.theory.org.uk/david/japanese.htm Japanese Cybercultures] - Preface to book (2002)

[http://www.theoryhead.com/gender/discuss.htm Articles accompanying the book Media, Gender and Identity] including interviews, articles, extended chapter (2002-03)

[http://www.newmediastudies.com/intro2004.htm Web.Studies introduction chapter] (2004)

[http://www.artlab.org.uk/inaugural.htm Popular Media and Self-Identity: New approaches] - Inaugural lecture (2004)

[http://www.artlab.org.uk/iamcr2004.htm IAMCR conference paper] on using new creative visual research methods to understand the place of popular media in people s lives (2004)

[http://www.medienpaed.com/04-1.htm Using Creative Visual Research Methods to Understand Media Audiences] from Medienpädagogik (Media Education), vol. 4, no. 1 (2005)

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