"[Big-D Discourses are] different ways in which we humans integrate language with non-language “stuff,” such as different ways of thinking, acting, interacting, valuing, feeling, believing, and using symbols, tools, and objects in the right places and at the right times so as to … give the material world certain meanings … make certain sorts of meaningful connections in our experience, and privilege certain symbols systems and ways of knowing over others." (Gee, 1999, p. 13)
I think that exploring the critial theory of "big D" Discourses may be quite relevant to my assignment topic. In my mind, characters such as B1 ad B2 from "Banana's in Pyjama's", "dirtgirlworld" and the "Koala Brothers" are all, or perhaps all incorporate "non-language" stuff in order to have meaning (or perhaps literacy value?) to their audience.
When reading the "dirtgirlworld blog", Cate McQullien (co-creator/editor) of the show writes:
"When dreaming about dirtgirlworld, we always envisaged something truly beautiful. A photomontage world that blended the real with the unreal, a world inhabited by characters that celebrated life outside and connected with children in a profound way. We wanted simple, sustainable stories; to create a show about the things we know and have really come to love. We wanted to share our love and thoughts about the future of our planet, from a hopeful and positive place, and we wanted it to be fun ... and weird ... and with heaps of music. Not 'worthy' and wholesome, but layered with humour and fantasy."
dirtgirl - Source:
As the blog comment notes, "Dirtgirl" lives in a specific world, where the 'non-language "stuff"' like the unusual style of animation blends with a specific agenda about saving the planet. There is also the comment about connecting with the audience (children aged 4 - 7 years) in a "profound way".
Gee's work on D/discourse is an interesting connection to make. Have you looked at any work on mulitmodality? This might be another way of making sense of the 'non-language stuff' and how it 'works'.
ReplyDelete