Beyond the Visual: An Introduction to Researching Multimodal Phenomena

by Frank Serafini, Theo van Leeuwen (Foreword)

Beyond the Visual is a survey of contemporary approaches to researching a wide range of visual and multimodal phenomena. Building on his earlier book, Reading the Visual , Serafini shares resources for conducting multimodal research across the social sciences. Beginning with a comprehensive overview of the theoretical foundations that support the analytical frameworks, the text is organized into two parts―texts and objects, events and spaces―with corresponding analytical approaches. Examples and outlines are provided to help novice and experienced researchers conduct their own studies. Vignettes by some of the most renowned scholars in the field of multimodality research take the reader behind the scenes of various projects to experience the thoughts and decisions that go into conceptualizing and applying the analytical frameworks presented in the book. This resource will enable both students and experienced scholars to acquire new research skills and designs resulting in more rigorous, high-quality research. Book

264 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2022

About the author

Dr. Frank Serafini is an author, illustrator, photographer, educator, musician, and a Professor of Literacy Education and Children’s Literature at Arizona State University.
Frank has published seven books with Heinemann, including: The Reading Workshop, Reading Aloud and Beyond, Lessons in Comprehension, and Around the Reading Workshop in 180 Days and Classroom Reading Assessments which will be available in 2010. In addition, Frank has published Reading the Visual (2014) and Beyond the Visual (2022) with Teachers College Press.
In 2008, Frank began writing and illustrating a series of non-fiction picturebooks focusing on nature with Kids Can Press. The Looking Closely series contains books about the desert, garden, pond, rainforest, shore and forest. In 2009, Looking Closely Along the Shore won an International Reading Association’s Teachers’ Choice Award, and Honorable Mention from the Society of School Librarians International.
A true “Renaissance Man,” Frank loves to travel, sing, play guitar, cook, draw, read, visit art galleries, and watch movies. His workshops are packed with important information and practical ideas, all delivered with a great sense of humor.