On becoming a director: Constructing voice from within a marginalized community

Candidate: Lorna Boschman
Type: Master of Arts (MA), School of Interactive Arts and Technology
Date: July 23, 2007
Senior Supervisor: Susan Kozel
Thesis: Download Thesis Document

Abstract

The goal of this research is to understand the role of agency, self-expression, and collective intelligence in media works by novice directors through examining in detail a community-based media project. From 2005 - 07, the researcher led a media workshop for adults with developmental disabilities who learned to direct their first video (National Film Board, 2006). Data from this workshop was examined using grounded theory and situational analysis in order to identify the interactions between the directors, the liaison and trainer, and the sponsoring organizations (Strauss & Corbin, 1998; Clarke, 2005). In addition to applying new research methods to media and interactive arts, the work contributes to knowledge regarding the effectiveness of community-based adaptive education for non-mainstream learners (Freire, 1970/2000; Warschauer, 2003). As well as extending adaptive technology (Dawe, 2006) to education, the work interrogates inclusive community (Bruckman, 2006), collective intelligence (Lévy, 1997; O'Reilly, 2005) and citizenship (Philia, 2005).