Conference Proceedings 2010 [pdf] - Art & Design Symposium ...

Sanoff, H. (1990). Participatory Design, Mansfield, Ohio: BookMasters.
Skivenes, M. & Stranbu, A. (2006). A Child Perspective and Children’s Participation, Children, Youth and
Environments, 16(2), p. 10-27.
West, A., Chen X. M., Zhou Y., Zhang C. N. & Qiang, C. (2007). From Performance to Practice: Changing
the Meaning of Child Participation in China”, Children, Youth and Environments, 17 (1), p. 14-32.
Considering the Role of Personal Narrative in Interpretation and Dialogical Spaces
Karen Hutzel and Vesta Daniel, The Ohio State University
Vesta Daniel (l) and Karen Hutzel (r); Leading discussion (r)
Interpretations can be varied and complex. Imagery including art, design, and visual culture, as an area where
interpretation takes place, provide spaces where complex and varied interpretations can lead to dialogical
overlap. These overlapping places of interpretation can provide an opportunity for learning and understanding
to emerge. Pragmatists have generally suggested that theory or language only holds true when it works in the
real world (James, 1907). In essence, the language we create and generalizations we make are only useful
insomuch as they work in the real world. We suggest the ways in which theory and language can play out
through a pragmatic framework are through personal narrative. For example, social justice is abstract in theory
and in language. Seeking social justice, however, requires personal narratives to be present and active. To not
consider personal narrative is an invitation to conversations and practices that can be racist, sexist, ageist, and
so on, which is in stark contrast to social justice initiatives.
Barrett’s (2003) work in art criticism has shed light on the potential for interpretations of contemporary art to
build community spaces where multiple understandings are highly valued and useful toward learning. Similarly,
conversations around visual culture have suggested socio-cultural possibilities for critical dialogue of visual
imagery. While visual culture discussions seem to have focused on societal and political critique and reflection,
we assert personal narrative and self-reflection as central to dialogical spaces where changed perceptions can
take place. Emphasizing personal narrative and self-reflection can attend to multicultural issues such as
racism, classism, sexism, and so on, in seeking social justice (Gollnick & Chinn, 2008).
Karen’s Voice
I didn’t see it. As I analyzed data collected in response to a public exhibit on slavery’s role with sugar cane
production, I came across two comments that claimed racism in the exhibit’s presence at this particular public,
urban market location. As a research evaluator, my first instinct was to ignore these two comments because of
their seeming insignificance compared to the many other positive and less critical comments. But I kept coming
back to these two comments. “They’re just young and angry,” I thought to myself. The exhibit certainly had
room for improvement, but in its entirety, the exhibit was meant to call attention to issues of race through
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