This is where I live: Photovoice as perspective on adolescent rural identity
Open Access
Author:
Hemming, Anthony James
Area of Honors:
Communication Arts and Sciences
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Michael L Hecht, Thesis Supervisor Michael L Hecht, Thesis Supervisor Michelle E Day, Thesis Supervisor Lori Ann Bedell, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
adolescent photovoice image elicitation qualitative communication rural rurality identity
Abstract:
Place has a strong influence on identity development, and generalized places (urban, suburban, rural) can have consistent influences on the identities of those living there. Photovoice is a participatory image elicitation practice which involves engaging community members to critically assess their environment through photography. This study reviews three studies of rural identity attributes and creates a list of themes that appear consistently across the literature. A group of rural adolescents were recruited to participate in a photovoice project and follow-up interviews, and the study seeks to compare the themes emergent in their interviews and images with the themes gleaned from the existing literature. Comparing these sets of themes will provide a unique commentary on adolescent rural identity and present a subjective, participatory means of recording identity.
