Editorial: Autoethnography & Arts-based Research

Abstract

Presentations focusing on autoethnography and arts-based re-search dominated the 3rd International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (QI) in May 2007. After attending several such sessions, we noticed a pattern. Research methods that involved visuals were most often organized under panel titles denoting arts-based research, and research methodology involving narratives were put in the autoethnography series of panels. In fact, when visuals were part of autoethnography, the methodology was referred to as “visual autoethnography.” Furthermore, methodologies that involved digital technologies, even in a minimal way, were often grouped together. Whether this chunking of “type” was useful or accurate was often hotly debated.

However, as we put this journal in order, both autoethnography and arts-based research seem reasonable foci for the articles in this volume. While only one author, Wanda Knight, specifically locates her article within these discourses, we believe that other authors’ works fits within these overlapping contexts. In this 2nd volume of VCG, we present research that integrates narratives, visuals, and technology, bringing visual emphasis into autoethnography and narrative into arts-based research.