Visual sociology is concerned primarily with the visual dimensions surrounding social life, and as such it's main focus on research is based on photography and documentary filmaking which can raise questions concerning the validity and reliability of such research methods.
A key problem in the reliability of visual based research is, according to Uwe Flick is the possibility of heavily influencing or the manipulation of the subject or image (Flick;2009:p-245) either consciously, through asking the subject to pose, or even they are lit in the image, or unconsciously in that the researchers very presence can affect a subjects behaviour or the researcher being selective in allowing what the camera can see.
This can also affect the process of data collection, leading into more ethical dilemmas concerning either 'covert' photography in an effort to not influence behaviour and thus the subject or group unaware they are even being researched.
The context of a shot can affect the validity of the data as we are only being shown a single frame or 'snapshot', frozen in time with little to no way of factoring in an understanding of the external or internal factors that shaped this single frame.(Prosser:1998:p-125).
Reference
Flick,Uwe An Introduction to Qualitative Research
Sage publications
2009
Prosser.Jon Image Based Research: A Sourcebook for Qualitative Researchers
Routledge
1998
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Interpellation
Interpellation or hailing will be used to offer an analysis of the photographs representing division and barriers.
This ideology relies on the moment, you as the individual choose to react or to recognise, take on the role that is offered to you, the addressed (Thwaites et al: 1994:p-163).
It does not matter how this role is taken, simply by responding you are recognizing yourself as the subject. This suggest that there is two opposing meanings of 'subject'. The first being the 'source of action' (Thwaites et al;1994:p-163), the individual who has made the decision and is inherently responsible for it the addressee.
The second being when one is talked about being subject to something ie the Law. In this meaning we have no choice or addresser.
Interpellation makes you a subject in both cases and can be seen in the photographs offered in this blog.
For example in this image of a front door, offers you to recreate the role of photographer in that you accept what this door means and you now recognize as being interpellated by the door itself, in that it is expressing the social and cultural relationships inherent with a generic front door.
This can also be seen with the above image of a barrier, which addresses the subject with role of perhaps health and safety purposes in that it is blocking an individual from getting to a certain space. The subject then by simply walking past this and entering through the correct entrance has been interpellated and has accepted the role given to them. This also raises the 'phatic' relationship between addresser and addressee and connects all individuals and subjects through their links to the interpellating addresser, in this case the barrier (Thwaites et al; 1994:p-165).
Through use of interpellation, in particular using this visual research we can also apply the model of 'hegonomy' which can illustrate the power relations between various groups, originating not from conflict but through use of consent (Thwaites et al;1994:p-169).
Using this model like interpellation, ideology is not forced but offered to the individual in terms of something you already agree upon even if this is values and interest of a dominant group that is not your own(Thwaites;1994:p-170). This can be seen in the following image, that of a door dividing a staff area from the shopfloor. As soon as a member of staff enters this door onto the shopfloor they, through consent will adopt the values and interests of the dominant social class such as the management.
In conclusion interpellation offers the visual researcher a valuable tool for analysis as it can show how society can be affected by any number of factors. It also allows the researcher the opportunity to share the process of being interpellated by an addresser through the visual recording of an addressee.
Reference
Thwaites, Tony Introducing Cultural and Media Studies
Davis, Lloyd Palgrave Macmillan
Mules Warwick 1994
This ideology relies on the moment, you as the individual choose to react or to recognise, take on the role that is offered to you, the addressed (Thwaites et al: 1994:p-163).
It does not matter how this role is taken, simply by responding you are recognizing yourself as the subject. This suggest that there is two opposing meanings of 'subject'. The first being the 'source of action' (Thwaites et al;1994:p-163), the individual who has made the decision and is inherently responsible for it the addressee.
The second being when one is talked about being subject to something ie the Law. In this meaning we have no choice or addresser.
For example in this image of a front door, offers you to recreate the role of photographer in that you accept what this door means and you now recognize as being interpellated by the door itself, in that it is expressing the social and cultural relationships inherent with a generic front door.
Through use of interpellation, in particular using this visual research we can also apply the model of 'hegonomy' which can illustrate the power relations between various groups, originating not from conflict but through use of consent (Thwaites et al;1994:p-169).
Using this model like interpellation, ideology is not forced but offered to the individual in terms of something you already agree upon even if this is values and interest of a dominant group that is not your own(Thwaites;1994:p-170). This can be seen in the following image, that of a door dividing a staff area from the shopfloor. As soon as a member of staff enters this door onto the shopfloor they, through consent will adopt the values and interests of the dominant social class such as the management.
In conclusion interpellation offers the visual researcher a valuable tool for analysis as it can show how society can be affected by any number of factors. It also allows the researcher the opportunity to share the process of being interpellated by an addresser through the visual recording of an addressee.
Reference
Thwaites, Tony Introducing Cultural and Media Studies
Davis, Lloyd Palgrave Macmillan
Mules Warwick 1994
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)