Spontaneous Wanderers in the Digital Metropolis: A Case Study of the New Literacy Practices of Youth Artists Learning on a Social Media Platform. by Brian Jones A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Approved July 2012 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Mary Stokrocki, Chair Barbara Guzzetti Bernard Young ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY December 2012 ABSTRACT This qualitative case study of 12, eighteen to twenty-four-year-olds from seven countries provided insight into the learning practices on an art-centered, social media platform. The study addressed two guiding questions; (a) what art related skills, knowledge, and dispositions do community members acquire using a social media platform? (b), What new literacy practices, e.g., the use of new technologies and an ethos of participation, collective intelligence, collaboration, dispersion of abundant resources, and sharing (Knobel & Lankshear, 2007), do members use in acquiring of art-related skills, concepts, knowledge, and dispositions? Data included interviews, online documents, artwork, screen capture of online content, threaded online discussions, and a questionnaire. Drawing on theory and research from both new literacies and art education, the study identified five practices related to learning in the visual arts: (a) practicing as professional artists; (b) engaging in discovery based search strategies for viewing and collecting member produced content; (c) learning by observational strategies; (d) giving constructive criticism and feedback; (e) making learning resources. The study presents suggestions for teachers interested in empowering instruction with new social media technologies. i DEDICATION To Pop. & Toffee I ache into the absence . ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I must thank those who's love and understanding sustained me throughout this journey. To my children Del and Jake, you may never know how your joy and love sustained me. To Mom for your unending support and understanding. To my sister, Dr. Julie Jones, for always being there. You inspire me. Thank you to all who called me "Little Professor" when I was a child. I thank Dr. Mary Stokrocki for granting me the freedom to explore innovative forms of research while keeping me grounded in solid methods. Thank you for opening new paths to insight. To Dr. Young for your steady wisdom, counsel, and compassion, you are a true gentleman. To Dr. Barbara Guzzetti, your encouragement and confidence sustained me more than you will ever know. I hope our paths cross often. I thank Dr. Mary Erickson, working with you remains a high point of my work at ASU. Thank you for your example of excellence, dedication, and work ethic. I must also recognize the influence of Dr. Donald Blumenfeld-Jones and Dr. Joe Tobin. I must also recognize and thank the office staff in the Art Building. A special thank you to Vicki Kelly and Carol Cox for your prompt and kind assistance. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................... vii GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Context ....................................................................................................................... 1 Digital Metropolis ................................................................................................ 3 Interlocutors .......................................................................................................... 4 Exhibition on the Global Commons .................................................................... 7 Call to Inquiry ............................................................................................................ 9 Statement of Problem .............................................................................................. 10 Statement of Purpose ............................................................................................... 11 Assumptions ............................................................................................................ 11 Delimitations .......................................................................................................... 12 Limitations ............................................................................................................... 12 Research Questions ................................................................................................. 13 Summary .................................................................................................................. 14 2 BACKGROUND LITERATURE ................................................................................ 15 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 15 Youth and Art Making ........................................................................................... 15 Aesthetic Theory ..................................................................................................... 16 Traditional Aesthetic Theories ................................................................................ 17 Memeis ............................................................................................................... 17 Emotional/Expressive ........................................................................................ 18 Formalism ............................................................................................................ 18 iv CHAPTER Page Pragmatic Instrumentalist Theory ...................................................................... 19 Cluster ................................................................................................................. 20 Institutional ........................................................................................................ 20 Postmodern Issues in Art Theory and Art Education ............................................. 22 Social Reconstructionism and Art Education ......................................................... 24 Popular Culture and Fan Art ................................................................................... 25 Art Education and Technology ............................................................................... 26 New Models for Art Classrooms ............................................................................ 27 Primary Studies of deviantART .............................................................................. 28 Manifold ............................................................................................................. 28 Perkel and Herr Stephenson ............................................................................... 29 Two Graduate Papers ......................................................................................... 30 Visual Dimensions of Social Media ....................................................................... 31 New Literacies ......................................................................................................... 31 Network Society ...................................................................................................... 33 Participatory Culture ............................................................................................... 34 Remediation ............................................................................................................. 35 Multimodality .......................................................................................................... 38 Bricolage .................................................................................................................. 40 Summary .................................................................................................................. 42 3 METHODOLOGY ....................................................................................................... 43 Naturalistic Qualitative Research ............................................................................ 43 Case Study ............................................................................................................... 44 Triangulation, Interpretation and Member Checks................................................. 45 Triangulation ............................................................................................ 45 Interpretation ...................................................................................................... 45 v CHAPTER Page Interviews and Member Checks .............................................................................. 46 Natural Documents .................................................................................................. 48 Descriptive Quantitative Data ................................................................................. 49 Recruitment ............................................................................................................