Contemplating Framing: Unpacking the Possibilities of Printmaking in Narrative Inquiry

Abstract

In this paper, we explore, name, and unpack the possibilities that printmaking, as an art form, holds in visual narrative inquiry. We also explore the relationship between visual narrative inquiry and narrative inquiry, a relational qualitative research methodology that attends to experiences. Drawing on two different ongoing narrative inquiry studies, where we engage with either trans young adults or refugee families from Syria with pre-school children, we explore how printmaking practices facilitate processes of inquiry. The etymology of the word “frame” helps us understand framing as a process that is future oriented and reflects a sense of doing, making, or preforming. In this way, framing allows us to see otherwise, to respond to and with participants, and to engage with experiences in ways that open new possibilities of inquiry.

Walking Alongside: Relational Research Spaces in Visual Narrative Inquiry

“…Visual narrative inquiry is a form of narrative inquiry. This type of research is rooted in narrative inquiry’s (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000) theory, methodology, and methods, but emphasizes art creation by participants and researchers as a key component of relational research to elicit storytelling, respond to, and tell stories (Bach, 2007; Caine, 2007; Caine & Lavoie, 2011, 2015; de Mello, 2007; Lavoie, 2021; Lavoie & Caine, 2021). Narrative inquiry is theoretically ground in Dewey’s (1938) pragmatist philosophy.…”

“…Dewey’s (1934) writing on the importance and uniqueness of art experiences—as imaginative, playful, evocative, reflective and critically thoughtful—is important to visual narrative inquiry. This work is undergirded by writing which emphasizes the contributions of artmaking and the arts in qualitative research (Lavoie, 2021; Lavoie & Caine, 2021). In this study, I specifically attend to relationships between visual arts and reflexivity (de Freitas, 2008), imagination (Greene, 1995), and multiplicities of meaning (Eisner, 2008).…”

“…Living relational research allowed participants and researchers to experience research as a means of coming to story, reflecting on, and expressing long silent stories. In this way, living research may facilitate storytelling by participants, enabling them to make sense of experiences and find words to tell their stories over time (Lavoie & Caine, 2021). By engaging participants to inquire into their experiences through living research processes, they may come to see themselves as authorities on their own lives within research (Clandinin et al, 2018), and develop greater agency as co-inquirers (de Mello, 2007, p. 215).…”

“…In this paper, participants’ stories exemplify complex challenges trans young adults negotiated and how walking alongside made space for us to creatively and ethically respond to support each other. Findings from my dissertation are published elsewhere (Lavoie, 2021; Lavoie & Caine, 2021), in this paper, I focus on my relational learning alongside participants. Elsewhere (Lavoie & Caine, 2021), I have focused on participants’ stories and artwork and how this methodology provided a generative, transgressive, and transformative space to support participants’ lives.…”

“…Findings from my dissertation are published elsewhere (Lavoie, 2021; Lavoie & Caine, 2021), in this paper, I focus on my relational learning alongside participants. Elsewhere (Lavoie & Caine, 2021), I have focused on participants’ stories and artwork and how this methodology provided a generative, transgressive, and transformative space to support participants’ lives. This paper unpacks Lugones’ theories of world travelling that enabled all of us to walk alongside each other.…”