Key Identity Theory - Pick and Mix - David Gauntlett

Key Identity Theory

Lego

Key Identity theory – David Gauntlet

• Creativity 
• Social Dimension
• Increases Purpose

Making things offers pleasure and it add as social dimension to life. It also allows exploration of creativity and expression. 

The Lego session was used to demonstrate the idea of exploring creativity and expression.

David Gauntlet’s Research

He suggests that ‘drawing, collage and making’ allow him to find more truthful answers and more meaningful responses.

His idea was to: 

Get Used To The Lego

Build Creature

Building an Identity

This allows him to get a response that presents a whole person, rather than a list. 

Participants found this method of research to be revealing / eye opening and rich in meanings. The research method could easily be applied to explore different experiences. Additionally it allows the participant to demonstrate aspects they might not have been able to verbally. 

Conclusion: Examine aspects or the whole representation of identity and use own interpretation. 

How does this relate to identity?

• Participants are aware of identity
• Identity theories are common currency
• Identities are unified, as we are complex
• Explores sense of conflict/ relationship between the individual and society. 

How does this relate to Media? 

• Media Studies is much too about the media and Gauntlet suggests that we should focus on the audience. The audience is complex and most people don’t think the media influences them, but mostly it does. 
• Media provides narratives through which we understand our lives better. So media can be relatable and interact/ explore out lives. 
• Ricoeur suggests that narratives offer ‘a vast laboratory for thought experiments’ and is relevant to the new age. 

Pick and Mix Theory

• Media provides the audience with resources to construct identity. 
• In the past there was ideal types of identity.
• Now the media is much more diverse.
• Audience can ‘Pick and Mix’.