the multimodal research centre

Work in the multimodal research centre focuses on multimodal mediation and phenomenology in the widest sense. Of particular interest from this theoretical point of view is the social actor acting in the world. Here, at the centre, we are taking both external and internal mediational means into consideration, and are working across the areas of communication, linguistics, psychology, anthropology and sociology, often conducting extended video-ethnographic fieldwork.

theory and method

We take mediated discourse theory/analysis as our umbrella framework and often use various, and always multiple methods, in order to arrive at new knowledge about how social actors act in the world.

While social actors in their socio-cultural environment are always in focus, it is of great interest to us in what ways the physical environment, objects and technology mediate and afford or constrain social actors' actions.

people in the centre

The multimodal research centre consists of loosely knit members who broadly fall into three categories:

Researchers who work or study at Auckland University of Technology. These are staff and research students.

Researchers who are interested in multimodal mediation in the broadest sense, and who interact with members of the MRC on a regular basis. These may be staff or research students from within AUT or from other universities across NZ and the world, who either collaborate on research projects or who are simply interested in what is happening at the centre.

Researchers who are institute or centre directors themselves or who are renowned scholars in the field of multimodality or mediation or both.

 

some history

In 2007, the Multimodal Research Group (MRG) was established when Sigrid Norris first came to Auckland University of Technology (AUT). As the MRG grew, it earned support from the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies at AUT and organically grew into a Research Centre.

In 2009, the Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack officially opened the Multimodal Research Centre. The day was celebrated with Plenaries and Workshops presented by Theo Van Leeuwen and Rondey Jones and was followed by a 3-day Research Retreat.

Also, in 2009, the Centre launched the new food brand Nothing Else.

In 2010, the Centre launched the Global Geosemiotics Project and conducted its first plenary-style international multimodal conference with Theo Van Leeuwen and Michael Heims as plenary speakers. With only one stream, all participants could listen to all presenters, resulting in much interaction among the participants and resulting in developing collaborations across the world.

In 2011 the Centre started the world-wide project Who are we? and How is new media technology impacting our lives? with scholars in over 15 countries participating; and later in the year launched the new Journal Multimodal Communication.