Practice-based method : exploring digital media through the dynamics of practice, theory, and collaborative, multimedia performance

Abstract

Abstract The synthesis of dynamic digital media and live, physical action present in multimedia performances affect both production practice of performance art and theoretical frameworks. This is a thesis on practice-based method and how digital media may compel us to revisit learning and research designs in digital media studies of the humanities. My aim is to review practice as an accompanying line of inquiry to the interpretive and critical approaches of the humanities, that is, in this instance, how collaborative, exploratory practice may extend our understanding of digital media. The core research questions are: How may practice-based methods inform studies of digital media? How may the interplay between practice and theory be conceptualised? How may practice-based studies be communicated?

This thesis is in itself based on such practice-based method, centered on the collaborative media and dance production Extended, part of the practice-based educational design of the master-level course New Media Education at IMK, autumn 2002/Spring 2003. Dance-students, choreography-students and media students, of which I was one, collaborated in making four media-rich dance performances. My practical experience from this production supports the reflection on practice-based method put forward in this thesis, as does relevant theory and recorded material from the production-process and final performances. Theoretical perspectives in this interdisciplinary thesis derive from cultural-historical activity theory on learning to post-critical perspectives on media studies, practice and on-line research communication.

From a cultural historical activity theory perspective on learning, from a media education perspective, from a digital media research perspective and from a multimodal culture perspective, there are reasons to advocate practice-based research and learning into digital media, Both digital media and digital media theory may be approached by notions of artifacts, and thereby as potential material and conceptual tools or artifacts of expressions in making expressive artifacts like multimedia performances. As all artifacts, digital media and digital media theory may be altered by practice, and thereby refined. A model of the dynamics of artifacts and tools in practice-based method is put forward.

Concepts: Digital media, interdisciplinarity, practice-based method, multimedia performance, research communication, artifacts of expression and expressive artifacts.

As this thesis explores how practice-based studies of digital media may be communicated by digital media, it is to be read as multimodal webtext, on-line. Please do see http://folk.uio.no/idunnsem/practice-based_method

Abstract The synthesis of dynamic digital media and live, physical action present in multimedia performances affect both production practice of performance art and theoretical frameworks. This is a thesis on practice-based method and how digital media may compel us to revisit learning and research designs in digital media studies of the humanities. My aim is to review practice as an accompanying line of inquiry to the interpretive and critical approaches of the humanities, that is, in this instance, how collaborative, exploratory practice may extend our understanding of digital media. The core research questions are: How may practice-based methods inform studies of digital media? How may the interplay between practice and theory be conceptualised? How may practice-based studies be communicated?

This thesis is in itself based on such practice-based method, centered on the collaborative media and dance production Extended, part of the practice-based educational design of the master-level course New Media Education at IMK, autumn 2002/Spring 2003. Dance-students, choreography-students and media students, of which I was one, collaborated in making four media-rich dance performances. My practical experience from this production supports the reflection on practice-based method put forward in this thesis, as does relevant theory and recorded material from the production-process and final performances. Theoretical perspectives in this interdisciplinary thesis derive from cultural-historical activity theory on learning to post-critical perspectives on media studies, practice and on-line research communication.

From a cultural historical activity theory perspective on learning, from a media education perspective, from a digital media research perspective and from a multimodal culture perspective, there are reasons to advocate practice-based research and learning into digital media, Both digital media and digital media theory may be approached by notions of artifacts, and thereby as potential material and conceptual tools or artifacts of expressions in making expressive artifacts like multimedia performances. As all artifacts, digital media and digital media theory may be altered by practice, and thereby refined. A model of the dynamics of artifacts and tools in practice-based method is put forward.

Concepts: Digital media, interdisciplinarity, practice-based method, multimedia performance, research communication, artifacts of expression and expressive artifacts.

As this thesis explores how practice-based studies of digital media may be communicated by digital media, it is to be read as multimodal webtext, on-line. Please do see http://folk.uio.no/idunnsem/practice-based_method