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David Gauntlett (b. March 15, 1971) is a social scientist specialising in the study of contemporary media audiences, and the role of media in shaping self-identity. He took his PhD and then taught at the University of Leeds, UK, from 1993 to 2001. He was appointed Professor of Media and Audiences at the University of Bournemouth, UK, at the age of 31, in 2001.
His critique of media 'effects' studies sparked controversy in 1995 (see book (http://www.theory.org.uk/david/book1.htm), article (http://www.theory.org.uk/david/effects.htm)) and led to the development of new 'creative' research methods, as an alternative to such research.
This approach asks participants are asked to make something as part of the research process. The Art Lab (http://www.artlab.org.uk) uses creative and artistic activities as research tools "to gain an insight into people's relationships with contemporary media culture. Instead of just talking to people in interviews or focus groups, these approaches get participants doing things, as a different way of getting inside their relationship to a particular topic." The process of making something, and then reflecting upon it, is claimed to give a more nuanced insight into what people feel about an issue.
His theoretical work on the role of media in the construction of identities (e.g. Media, Gender and Identity (http://www.theoryhead.com/gender)) builds on the work of Anthony Giddens, Michel Foucault, and postfeminism.
Gauntlett produces the well-known media theory website, Theory.org.uk (http://www.theory.org.uk/). His other personal projects include A Drawing A Day (http://www.artlab.org.uk/drawing/) (ongoing), the Theory Trading Cards (http://www.theorycards.org.uk/) (1999-04) and Send Me Stuff (http://www.theory.org.uk/postal/) (2002).
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