Media theory of composition
Encyclopedia
Commonly called “new media,” a media-centered theory of composition
(hereafter referred to as “media theory”) focuses on the tools used in the composition process, and their opportunities and constraints. Stemming from the rise of computers as word processing tools, media theorists now also examine the rhetorical choices new media offer writers, implications for literacy
, as well as questions of identity
.
Visual rhetoric
, the consideration of visual, as opposed to written or spoken communication, has had a strong influence on composition studies. Scholars such as Cynthia Selfe, Geoffrey Sirc, Anne Wysocki, Richard Lanham, and many others, have explored the role of visual communication in the composition classroom.
Identity
creation is explored in media theory through the act of composition. Drawing from social construction and discourse
theories, scholars such as Cynthia Selfe, Dickie Selfe, Kris Blair, Andrew Mara, Angela Haas, Gail Hawisher, and Lisa Nakamura examine implications for online composition, electronic contact zones, and representation of the self in electronic composition.
for the Apple Macintosh, the focus in media research shifted to hypertext’s implications in the writing classroom.
Much research has been done regarding technological literacy, and questions of literacy in general. Richard Ohmann, as early as 1985, questions the focus on technological literacy appearing in schools at the time. Insisting that technological literacy is tied to socioeconomic class, Ohmann, and others like him began to research the possibility for educational ostracism because of a lack of access to technological tools. This contrasts starkly with much of the utopian visions of the technological classroom that others exhibited.
Current research is being conducted multimodal composition, broadening composition to encompass video, video games, music, and other interactive media Digital Media
.
, or social constructivism
, or some other theoretical approach.
Computers in the classroom can reduce hierarchical constructs in the classroom. They can provide “basic writers” with a more appropriate learning atmosphere or provide them with tools that simplify the revision and feedback process, in the proper conditions.
Collaboration is also a key focus for media theorists, since computers and the internet can provide opportunities for synchronous or asynchronous writing environments.
The New London Group, "A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies: Designing Social Futures." Multiliteracies: Literacy Learning and the Design of Social Futures. Ed Bill Cope and Mary
Jeffrey T. Grabill, “Utopic Visions, the Technopoor, and Public Access: Writing Technologies in a Community Literacy Program.” Computers and Composition 15 (1998): 296-315.
Composition studies
Composition Studies is the professional field of writing research and instruction, focusing especially on writing at the college level in the United States...
(hereafter referred to as “media theory”) focuses on the tools used in the composition process, and their opportunities and constraints. Stemming from the rise of computers as word processing tools, media theorists now also examine the rhetorical choices new media offer writers, implications for literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
, as well as questions of identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
.
Theoretical Construct
During the 1980s, which saw the rise of the personal computer and the word processor, composition theorists began to examine the effects digital composition has on the writer. The ubiquity of personal computing has not diminished the computer’s role in understanding composition, but media theory’s view has expanded beyond simply digital word processing.Visual rhetoric
Visual rhetoric
Visual rhetoric is the fairly recent development of a theoretical framework describing how visual images communicate, as opposed to aural, verbal, or other messages. The study of visual rhetoric is different from that of visual or graphic design, in that it emphasizes images as sensory expressions...
, the consideration of visual, as opposed to written or spoken communication, has had a strong influence on composition studies. Scholars such as Cynthia Selfe, Geoffrey Sirc, Anne Wysocki, Richard Lanham, and many others, have explored the role of visual communication in the composition classroom.
Identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
creation is explored in media theory through the act of composition. Drawing from social construction and discourse
Discourse
Discourse generally refers to "written or spoken communication". The following are three more specific definitions:...
theories, scholars such as Cynthia Selfe, Dickie Selfe, Kris Blair, Andrew Mara, Angela Haas, Gail Hawisher, and Lisa Nakamura examine implications for online composition, electronic contact zones, and representation of the self in electronic composition.
Research
The earliest research that can be considered part of media theory involved the use of computers as word processors. However, with the advent of applications like HyperCardHyperCard
HyperCard is an application program created by Bill Atkinson for Apple Computer, Inc. that was among the first successful hypermedia systems before the World Wide Web. It combines database capabilities with a graphical, flexible, user-modifiable interface. HyperCard also features HyperTalk, written...
for the Apple Macintosh, the focus in media research shifted to hypertext’s implications in the writing classroom.
Much research has been done regarding technological literacy, and questions of literacy in general. Richard Ohmann, as early as 1985, questions the focus on technological literacy appearing in schools at the time. Insisting that technological literacy is tied to socioeconomic class, Ohmann, and others like him began to research the possibility for educational ostracism because of a lack of access to technological tools. This contrasts starkly with much of the utopian visions of the technological classroom that others exhibited.
Current research is being conducted multimodal composition, broadening composition to encompass video, video games, music, and other interactive media Digital Media
Digital media
Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
.
Pedagogy
Media theory focuses on how to use tools, other than the pen and pencil, to facilitate other composition theories. Whether the writing instructor favors process, post-process, formalismFormalism (music)
In music theory and especially in the branch of study called the aesthetics of music, formalism is the concept that a composition's meaning is entirely determined by its form.-Aesthetic theory:Leonard B...
, or social constructivism
Social constructivism
Social constructivism is a sociological theory of knowledge that applies the general philosophical constructionism into social settings, wherein groups construct knowledge for one another, collaboratively creating a small culture of shared artifacts with shared meanings...
, or some other theoretical approach.
Computers in the classroom can reduce hierarchical constructs in the classroom. They can provide “basic writers” with a more appropriate learning atmosphere or provide them with tools that simplify the revision and feedback process, in the proper conditions.
Collaboration is also a key focus for media theorists, since computers and the internet can provide opportunities for synchronous or asynchronous writing environments.
Criticisms and Constraints
With literacy and identity becoming important in electronic spaces, some theorists caution us against placing too much weight on new media in the composition classroom. From investigations into the rhetorical constraints user interfaces place upon the user to increased concerns regarding plagiarism , electronic spaces in particular have wide-ranging implications for the composition classroom.Further reading
Lester Faigley, “The Achieved Utopia of the Networked Classroom.” Fragments of Rationality: Postmodernity and the Subject of Composition. UPitt Press, 1992. 163-199.The New London Group, "A Pedagogy of Multiliteracies: Designing Social Futures." Multiliteracies: Literacy Learning and the Design of Social Futures. Ed Bill Cope and Mary
Jeffrey T. Grabill, “Utopic Visions, the Technopoor, and Public Access: Writing Technologies in a Community Literacy Program.” Computers and Composition 15 (1998): 296-315.