I am interested in finding out among my colleagues on the list what
their definition of illustration is. Working within a constructivist-
interpetivist paradigm I have been carrying out what Habermas (1986)
would describe as a 'double hermeneutic'; trying to interpret my
students' interpretations. Method of analysis has been semi-
structured interviews, written rationales and semiotic analysis of
design outputs and preparatory workbook activity. I gave a group of
students a short text extract, asked them to sum up the writer's
meaning and then illustrate the text. Now I am finding myself having
to defend against a relativist argument that each interpretation is
as valid as the next and that mine is no more valid than any other
interpretation. What I now find myself returning to is the most basic
of questions. What is illustration? I have a recent paper which you
are welcome to critique.
http://praxis.massey.ac.nz/mcauley.html
Mike McAuley
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