Kitesurfing: Action, (Inter)action and Mediation Jarret Geenen A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2013 School of Communications Table of Contents Attestation of Authorship ................................................................................................ vii List of Figures ................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ................................................................................................... xi Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................... xii Ethics Approval .............................................................................................................. xiii Abstract ......................................................................................................................... xiv 1 Introduction: Kitesurfing: Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ............. 1 1.1 Introduction: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ......................... 1 1.2 Rationale of the Study ........................................................................................ 2 1.3 Why Kitesurfing? ............................................................................................... 4 1.4 Why Multimodal Mediated Theory? .................................................................. 7 1.5 Aims of the Thesis ............................................................................................ 10 1.6 Overview of the Thesis ..................................................................................... 12 1.7 Conclusion: Kitesurfing, Action, (Inter)action and Mediation ........................ 17 2 Literature Review: Lifestyle Sport, Space and Time ............................ 18 2.1 Introduction: Lifestyle sport, space and time ................................................... 18 2.2 Lifestyle Sport: Literature Review ................................................................... 19 2.2.1 Toward a mediated discourse perspective................................................. 36 2.3 Space and Time: Literature Review ................................................................. 39 2.4 Conclusion: Literature Review of Lifestyle Sports and Space and Time ........ 49 3 Literature Review: Multimodal Mediated Theory ................................ 51 3.1 Introduction: Multimodal Mediated Theory ..................................................... 51 3.2 Mediated Discourse Theory ............................................................................. 65 3.3 Conclusion: Multimodal Mediated Theory ...................................................... 76 i 4 Design of Study ..................................................................................... 78 4.1 Introduction: Design of Study .......................................................................... 78 4.2 Methods of Collection ...................................................................................... 78 4.2.1 Participant-observation ............................................................................. 78 4.2.2 Tripod supported video-camera ................................................................ 79 4.2.3 Line-mounted GoPro cameras................................................................... 80 4.2.4 Still images ................................................................................................ 81 4.2.5 Observational notes ................................................................................... 82 4.2.6 Interviews .................................................................................................. 83 4.3 Data Table ........................................................................................................ 84 4.4 Participants ....................................................................................................... 86 4.5 Site Selection and Personal Background .......................................................... 87 4.5.1 Ethnography and site selection.................................................................. 89 4.5.2 Understanding site selection: Methodological reflexivity ........................ 91 4.6 Site Access and Participant Recruitment .......................................................... 93 4.6.1 Site access, participant recruitment and field relations ............................. 96 4.6.2 Site access, participant recruitment and field relations: Methodological considerations .......................................................................................... 101 4.7 Data Collection: Participatory Observation.................................................... 105 4.8 Typical Day .................................................................................................... 108 4.9 Conclusion: Design of Study .......................................................................... 111 5 Methodology ....................................................................................... 112 5.1 Methodology: Introduction ............................................................................. 112 5.2 Participant-Observation .................................................................................. 113 5.3 Mediated Discourse Analysis and Multimodal (Inter)action Analysis .......... 116 5.3.1 Mediated action ....................................................................................... 117 5.3.2 Mediational means .................................................................................. 122 5.3.3 Practice .................................................................................................... 123 5.3.4 Touch/response-feel ................................................................................ 124 5.3.5 Transcription ........................................................................................... 125 5.4 Conclusion: Methodology .............................................................................. 127 ii 6 Kitesurfing as System of Mediated Action: Exhibiting four Characteristics ..................................................................................... 129 6.1 Introduction: Kitesurfing as a System of Mediated Action ............................ 129 6.2 Characteristics of Systems of Mediated Action: Theoretical Development .. 134 6.2.1 System of mediated action: Serving socio-cultural, economic, industrial, commercial, educational, or creative functions....................................... 136 6.2.2 System of mediated action: Changing in direct connection with mediational means/cultural tools ............................................................ 140 6.2.3 System of mediated action: Developing embedded systems .................. 149 6.2.3.1 System of mediated action: Specialised practices as embedded systems . ............................................................................................................. 151 6.2.4 System of mediated action: Same actions belonging to/creating different practices................................................................................................... 154 6.3 Mediated Actions as Specialised Practices within a System of Mediated Action: An Example ....................................................................................... 161 6.3.1 Frames 1-7: Riding on a starboard tack .................................................. 166 6.3.2 Frames 8-9: Heel-side transition ............................................................. 169 6.3.3 Frames 10-11: Power-stroke ................................................................... 172 6.3.4 Frames 12-21: Completion of the heel-side transition ............................ 174 6.3.5 Frames 22-25: Riding on a port tack ....................................................... 177 6.3.6 Practices within the system of mediated action ...................................... 178 6.4 Conclusion: Four Characteristics of the System of Mediated Action ............ 178 7 Actionary Pertinence: Space to Location ........................................... 180 7.1 Introduction: Actionary Pertinence ................................................................ 180 7.2 Space, Location, and Locational elements ..................................................... 181 7.3 Considering Location ..................................................................................... 183 7.3.1 Stable locational element ........................................................................ 184 7.3.2 Predictable locational element ................................................................ 185 7.3.3 Contingent locational element................................................................. 185 7.4 Locational Elements: Categorical Relation, Spatial Stability and Relativity Factors ............................................................................................................ 186 7.5 Location: Possibility, Safety and Favourability ............................................. 188 7.6 Kitesurfing Location: Te Haruhi Bay (Shakespear Regional Park) ............... 192 iii 7.6.1 Te Haruhi Bay: Safety ............................................................................. 192 7.6.2 Te Haruhi Bay: Favourability ................................................................. 198 7.7 Kitesurfing