Methodologies for the analysis of online audiovisual space:Between innovation and anxiety of novelty

Abstract

In recent times the emergence of digital spaces and large databases of online videos has generated a great number of methodological innovations. Such research practices also are frequently accompanied by encouraging speeches and prophecies about the role of online media in social research. Thus, what we call audiovisual methodologies have been transformed and altered. In this article, from a simple set of specific features of the platforms of videos on the Internet (Youtube mainly) we have tried to identify a number of models of audiovisual research or production practices and interpretation of audiovisual materials in the field of Social Sciences. Through its description and demonstration of their essential distinctive features and theoretical and methodological assumptions we will try to challenge them for a constructive criticism of this type of research proposals. The core idea we take is that questioning these bases and underlying assumptions is necessary to advance a sociological practice who really take advantage of the methodological opportunities around the online audiovisual repositories.