Visual sociology
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Visual sociology is an area of sociology concerned with the visual dimensions of social life.
Theory and method
Visual sociology can be theoretically framed around three themes. Luc Pauwels suggests that the framework is based on the origin and nature of visuals, research focus and design, and format and purpose.[1]
There are at least three approaches to doing visual sociology:
Data collection using cameras and other recording technology
In this context, the camera is analogous to a
Visual recording technology also allows us to manipulate the data. Visual recording can be used to represent other forms of recording technology and non-digital multimedia.
Photo elicitation is another technique of data gathering. This methodological tool is a combination of photography as the visual equivalent of a tape recorder, and ethnography or other qualitative methods. Photo elicitation techniques involve using photographs or film as part of the interview—in essence asking research subjects to discuss the meaning of photographs, films or videos. In this case the images can be taken specially by the researcher with the idea of using them to elicit information, they can belong to the subject, for example family photographs or movies, or they can be gathered from other sources including archives, newspaper and television morgues, or corporate collections. Typically the interviewee's comments or analysis of the visual material is itself recorded, either on audio tape or video, etc.
Photo voice is a related research method in which researchers give those being studied still or movie cameras. Research participants are taught to use the image making technology but are then responsible for making photos or movies which are subsequently analyzed either by the researchers or the participants, or both. The first use of photo voice was by Wang and Burris (published in 1994), where they defined it as "a method through which knowledge would be generated by people who were normally passive objects in the research process."[3]
In any case, in this first sense visual sociology means including and incorporating visual methods of data gathering and analysis in the work of sociology. This method has recently been transferred to other academic disciplines, notably having been pioneered in contemporary religious research.[4][5]
Studying visual data produced by cultures
Visual sociology attempts to study visual images produced as part of culture.
Communication with images and media other than words
A third dimension of visual sociology is both the use of visual media to communicate sociological understandings to professional and public audiences, and also the use of visual media within sociological research itself.
In this context, visual sociology draws on the work of
See also
References
- S2CID 60466985.
- ^ Douglas, Harper (2012). Visual Sociology. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 149.
- ^ Douglas, Harper (2012). Visual Sociology. Taylor & Francis Group. p. 189.
- ^ Dr. Sarah Dunlop Values and Significance: A case study exploring the search for meaning among young people in Eastern and Central Europe, a paper given at the BSA Sociology of Religion Study Group Annual Conference 2008 'Religion and Youth' Archived 2008-08-20 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dr. Sarah Dunlop "Visualising Hope." published 2008 by YTC Press.
- ISBN 9781849209700.
- ^ Rakić, T., & Chambers, D. (2012). An Introduction to Visual Research Methods in Tourism. Routledge.
- ^ Pernecky, T., Rakic, & Tijana. (2019). Visual methods in event studies. Event Management, 23(2), 179-190. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599518X15378845225447