2. method as field of discussion

This chapter aims to prepare the reading of this reflexive thesis on method. Section 2.1 introduces the context of Extended as part of the experimental course “New Media Education”, Autumn 2002. The different roles of the fields practice-based method and multimedia performance in this thesis, are clarified here.

At present, there is a growing awareness of practice-based method in humanities much led by digital media studies and the evolving field of studies of digital media, which combine performance-practice and web-based research-communication forms. Section 2.2 situates this thesis as part of this field after briefly covering why practice-based method may be said to represent a break with traditions of both humanities and critical media studies. Sections 2.3 and 2.4 close the section with notes on form, that is the web-based research re-/presentation, the widespread inquiry and the theoretical interdisciplinarity exercised in the thesis.