Arts & International Affairs: Vol. 3, No.3/Vol. 4, No. 1, Winter 2018/2019 | Page 6

Content
Form
→
→
INTRODUCTION: UNDERSTANDING MULTIMODALITIES
IN ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Monologic
(author to audience)
Dialogic
(co-creation/representation)
Textual Academic writing Interactive forums
Word/Visual/
Acoustic
Visual media:
e.g. Documentary Film
Multimodality
e.g. DiY, participatory
practices
Table 1. Understanding the Content and Form of Multimodal Analyses.
There is another way to present the matrix above to indicate the movement from the
exclusivity of traditional, contemplative, authoritative (or downright exploitative) research
practice to inclusive dialogic communication that involves the authors and subjects
in co-production of meanings.
Figure 1. Moving from Textual Exclusivity to Multimodal Inclusivity.
Forms of Multimodality
Inclusivity relies on careful reflection. Reflection on our research, our relationships
with research participants, and our role as researcher. All articles in the current issue
grapple with these themes. The “authors” in this issue are aware of the power dynamics
in the production of meanings but suggest different strategies around this.
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