More About My Dissertation
"An a/r/tographic study of six multicultural children's book illustrators: Developing a place-based pedagogy of pleasure" was completed in 2006 at Washington State University. My committee consisted of Drs. David Gruenewald (now Greenwood), Mike Kayes, Gail Furman, and Rita Irwin.
My dissertation focused on many aspects of children's picture books including uncovering underlying themes, messages or ideologies; art as visual texts with their own messages; the cultural production of how picture books are created; race, place, and culture; and the healing power of art.
My study utilized a range of pedagogies and theoretical lenses including a/r/tography, critical multicultural education and analysis, critical race theory, place-based education, cultural production, and visual culture studies to explore these interconnections. The use of these lenses also enabled exploration of the intersecting contexts of place and culture, i.e., looking at where each of us comes from as sites of colonialist appropriation and resistance (including our bodies) while positioning our books and lives as counter-narratives to the ideologies that have, and continue to oppress and marginalize us and others.
In addition, my primary methodology of a/r/tography, with its dual practice of image and text creation as both reflection and representation, coming from the subjective position of the researcher as an artist/researcher and teacher, led me to begin developing a new pedagogy. This pedagogy draws on the many themes that emerged in the research to propose a method of education that combines place-based, visual culture, and critical multicultural art education with a strong dose of pleasure.
To find out more about the participants please visit their websites
Maya Gonzalez http://www.mayagonzalez.com/
Joe Sam http:///www.joesam.com
Elizabeth Gomez http://www.elizabethgomezart.com/wp/
George Littlechild http://www.georgelittlechild.com
Carl Angel http://www.carlqangel.com
Click here to download a Pdf bibliography of the participants books and selected awards.
My dissertation focused on many aspects of children's picture books including uncovering underlying themes, messages or ideologies; art as visual texts with their own messages; the cultural production of how picture books are created; race, place, and culture; and the healing power of art.
My study utilized a range of pedagogies and theoretical lenses including a/r/tography, critical multicultural education and analysis, critical race theory, place-based education, cultural production, and visual culture studies to explore these interconnections. The use of these lenses also enabled exploration of the intersecting contexts of place and culture, i.e., looking at where each of us comes from as sites of colonialist appropriation and resistance (including our bodies) while positioning our books and lives as counter-narratives to the ideologies that have, and continue to oppress and marginalize us and others.
In addition, my primary methodology of a/r/tography, with its dual practice of image and text creation as both reflection and representation, coming from the subjective position of the researcher as an artist/researcher and teacher, led me to begin developing a new pedagogy. This pedagogy draws on the many themes that emerged in the research to propose a method of education that combines place-based, visual culture, and critical multicultural art education with a strong dose of pleasure.
To find out more about the participants please visit their websites
Maya Gonzalez http://www.mayagonzalez.com/
Joe Sam http:///www.joesam.com
Elizabeth Gomez http://www.elizabethgomezart.com/wp/
George Littlechild http://www.georgelittlechild.com
Carl Angel http://www.carlqangel.com
Click here to download a Pdf bibliography of the participants books and selected awards.