Into the labyrinth: Persephone's journey as metaphor and method for research

Edited book (chapter)


Jones, Janice K.. 2013. "Into the labyrinth: Persephone's journey as metaphor and method for research." Midgley, Warren, Trimmer, Karen and Davies, Andy (ed.) Metaphors for, in and of education research. Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 66-90
Chapter Title

Into the labyrinth: Persephone's journey as metaphor and method for research

Book Chapter CategoryEdited book (chapter)
ERA Publisher ID1417
Book TitleMetaphors for, in and of education research
Authors
AuthorJones, Janice K.
EditorsMidgley, Warren, Trimmer, Karen and Davies, Andy
Page Range66-90
Chapter Number5
Number of Pages25
Year2013
PublisherCambridge Scholars Publishing
Place of PublicationNewcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom
ISBN9781443843980
Abstract

The hero's journey (Campbell, Cousineau, & Brown, 2003, p. 29) offers a rich metaphor for the doctoral research experience, with its call to action, its focus on a parallel world where challenges are met with the support of mentors, and where the hero returns with special knowledge. The labyrinth is a traditional metaphor for the heroic path, and Theseus is acknowledged in book and film as the hero who craftily negotiates the underground maze in order to slay a half-human beast and claim rewards of wealth, and power. This chapter re-situates the labyrinth metaphor as a framing device for the less-told and more ancient narrative of Kore-Persephone-Demeter: a fertility rite and seasonal transition of the female principle involving sacrifice, transformation and rebirth. The author contends that metaphors of immersion, sacrifice and transformation, rather than metaphors of strategy and force have a greater capacity to reveal the complex and multiple truths of the doctoral research journey. Eschewing metaphors of research as a maze wherein the binaries of evil and good, light and darkness contend, the writer re-frames the doctoral journey as a sacrificial experience where constructs of self-and-the-world and self-in-the world are disrupted and transformed, leading to greater agency. The unicursal labyrinth is applied as a metaphor by which the seasonal trajectory of Kore-Persephone-Demeter through death to resurrection and new life may be understood as a representation of the doctoral journey: a metaphor within a metaphor. The metaphor and myth are frameworks against which tales of the field (van Maanen, 1988) in the form of vignettes extracted from a bricolage of data gathered during a six-year doctoral journey in education are used to illuminate the researcher’s growing awareness of the reflective and transformative power of writing. Sacrificed, transformed, and wisened, the researcher emerges from the immersive experience as an empowering force for others’ research journeys.

Keywordstransformation; transformative practice; professional identity; researcher identity; reflective practice; bricolage; writing as research; narrative methods; autoethnography; labyrinth; metaphor; transitions; resurrection; feminism; rites of passage; Persephone
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390303. Higher education
360203. Professional writing and journalism practice
500107. Professional ethics
Public Notes

© 2013 by Warren Midgley, Karen Trimmer and Andy Davies and contributors. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.
Chapter 5.

Byline AffiliationsFaculty of Education
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1y97/into-the-labyrinth-persephone-s-journey-as-metaphor-and-method-for-research

  • 2263
    total views
  • 49
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Civic engagement as empowerment: sharing our names and remembering our her-stories—resisting ofuniversity
Henderson, Linda, Black, Ali, Crimmins, Gail and Jones, Janice K.. 2019. "Civic engagement as empowerment: sharing our names and remembering our her-stories—resisting ofuniversity." Crimmins, Gail (ed.) Strategies for resisting sexism in the academy: higher education, gender and intersectionality . New York, United States. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 287-304
Collaborative writing ‘betwixt and between’ sits jaggedly against traditional regimes of authorship
Crimmins, Gail, Black, Ali, Jones, Janice K., Loch, Sarah and Impiccini, Julianne. 2018. "Collaborative writing ‘betwixt and between’ sits jaggedly against traditional regimes of authorship." TEXT: Journal of Writing and Writing Courses. 22 (1). https://doi.org/10.52086/001c.25110
Open educational practice and preservice teacher education: understanding past practice and future possibilities
Albion, Peter R., Jones, David, Campbell, Chris and Jones, Janice. 2017. "Open educational practice and preservice teacher education: understanding past practice and future possibilities." Liu, Leping and Gibson, David (ed.) 28th International Conference of the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE 2017). Austin, United States 05 - 09 Mar 2017 Waynesville, NC, United States.
Aesthetics and ethics informing an exhibition of artworks by Indigenous youth
Jones, Janice K.. 2017. "Aesthetics and ethics informing an exhibition of artworks by Indigenous youth." 12th International Conference on the Arts In Society: Gestures that Matter . Paris, France 14 - 16 Jun 2017 Champaign, Illinois, United States.
Reducing the drag: creating v formations through slow scholarship and story
Black, Alison L., Crimmins, Gail and Jones, Janice K.. 2017. "Reducing the drag: creating v formations through slow scholarship and story." Riddle, Stewart, Harmes, Marcus K. and Danaher, Patrick Alan (ed.) Producing pleasure within the contemporary university. Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Sense Publishers. pp. 137-155
13 Moons: A Story of Ashes, Blood, Light
Jones, Janice, Jones, Janice and Jones, Janice. 2016. "13 Moons: A Story of Ashes, Blood, Light ." 7th International Metabody Forum (2016). London, United Kingdom 04 - 09 Apr 2016 Australia.
Creative destruction: An ‘Open Textbook’ disrupting personal and institutional praxis
Jones, Janice K.. 2016. "Creative destruction: An ‘Open Textbook’ disrupting personal and institutional praxis." Open Education Global (2016). Krakow, Poland 12 - 14 Apr 2016 Krakow Poland.
Slow scholarship and wellbeing: humanising the academic machine
Jones, Janice Kathleen, Crimmins, Gail, Black, Ali and Impiccini, Julianne. 2016. "Slow scholarship and wellbeing: humanising the academic machine." 6th Midterm Conference of the European Sociological Association's Research Network Sociology of Culture (ESA RN7 2016). Exeter, United Kingdom 16 - 18 Nov 2016
Reflected, refracted, re-voiced: the ivory tower re-constructed
Jones, Janice. 2014. "Reflected, refracted, re-voiced: the ivory tower re-constructed." 11th Kaleidoscope Graduate Student Research Conference (2014). Cambridge, UK 29 - 30 May 2014
Virtual worlds as restorative environments
Jones, Janice K., Farley, Helen and Murphy, Angela. 2018. "Virtual worlds as restorative environments." Gregory, Sue and Wood, Denise (ed.) Authentic virtual world education: facilitating cultural engagement and creativity. Singapore. Springer. pp. 45-59
Risky discourses: promiscuously storying women's lives
Crimmins, Gail, Black, Ali, Loch, Sarah, Jones, Janice, Impiccini, Julianne, Albion, Lisa and Berryman, Angela. 2016. "Risky discourses: promiscuously storying women's lives." 2016 Australian Women’s and Gender Studies Association Biennial International Conference (AWGSA 2016): De-story the Joint. Brisbane, Australia Australia.
Finding connectedness, finding belonging, finding our voice: contemplating creative and connected futures through storytelling and narrative.
Black, Ali, Impiccini, Julianne, Crimmins, Gail and Jones, Janice. 2016. "Finding connectedness, finding belonging, finding our voice: contemplating creative and connected futures through storytelling and narrative." 2016 Regional Futures Conference: Working Together to Build Strong Regional Futures. Rockhampton, Australia 21 - 24 Jun 2016 Australia.
An informal community of practice: the case of the DEHub virtual worlds working group
Farley, Helen, Gregory, Sue, Grant, Scott, Butler, Des, Jacka, Lisa, Orwin, Lindy and Jones, Janice K.. 2012. "An informal community of practice: the case of the DEHub virtual worlds working group." Brown, M., Hartnett, M. and Stewart, T. (ed.) 29th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2012). Wellington, New Zealand 25 - 28 Nov 2012 Gold Coast, Australia.
Re-framing education as a thirdspace: neonarratives of pedagogy, power and transformation
Jones, Janice Kathleen. 2011. Re-framing education as a thirdspace: neonarratives of pedagogy, power and transformation. PhD Thesis Doctor of Philosophy. University of Southern Queensland.
The Big House closing the gap: dreams and dissonant discourses
Jones, Janice K.. 2015. "The Big House closing the gap: dreams and dissonant discourses." 2015 International Conference on Deep Languages Education Policy and Practices: Stimulating languages learning - global perspectives and local practice. Ipswich, Queensland 17 - 18 Oct 2015
Telling lives: women, stories and healing
Crimmins, Gail, Jones, Janice, Loch, Sarah, Black, Ali and Albion, Lisa. 2016. "Telling lives: women, stories and healing." 1st Narrative, Health and Wellbeing Research Conference: Enlightened: Narratives and Narrative Strategies to Awaken Applied and Creative Humanism. Central Queensland University, Noosa 08 Feb 2016
Dinawan Dreaming: pre-service teachers seeing the world with fresh eyes
Jones, Janice K. and Moodie, Donna. 2012. "Dinawan Dreaming: pre-service teachers seeing the world with fresh eyes." 9th Annual Australian Universities Community Engagement Alliance International Conference: Next Steps: Community Engaged Learning (AUCEA 2012): . Brisbane, Australia 09 - 11 Jul 2012 Lismore, Australia.
Entangled, emergent, emboldened: an indigenous youth arts group and non-indigenous arts and literacies facilitators talk back to the ‘Big House' (University)
Jones, Janice K. and Abawi, Lindy-Anne. 2015. "Entangled, emergent, emboldened: an indigenous youth arts group and non-indigenous arts and literacies facilitators talk back to the ‘Big House' (University)." 2015 Annual International Literacy Conference: Resisting the Standard: Language, Literacy & Power. Sheffield, United Kingdom 26 - 27 Jun 2015
Connecting, catering for, and celebrating diverse student learners
Abawi, Lindy-Anne and Jones, Janice K.. 2015. "Connecting, catering for, and celebrating diverse student learners." European Conference on Education: Education, Power and Empowerment: Changing and Challenging Communities (ECE2015). Brighton, United Kingdom 01 - 05 Jul 2015
Neither of the air, nor of the earth but a creature somewhere between: the researcher as traveller between worlds
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "Neither of the air, nor of the earth but a creature somewhere between: the researcher as traveller between worlds ." Trimmer, Karen, Black, Alison L. and Riddle, Stewart (ed.) Mainstreams, margins and the spaces in-between: new possibilities for education research. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom. Routledge. pp. 81-93
Conference Workshop: AURASMA – bring your poster alive!
Jones, Janice K.. 2015. "Conference Workshop: AURASMA – bring your poster alive! " 2015 International Conference on Deep Languages Education Policy and Practices: Stimulating languages learning - global perspectives and local practice. Ipswich, Queensland 17 - 18 Oct 2015
Decolonising research and teaching methodologies: A “ninth moment” symphony of artist-educator-researcher voices
Jones, Janice K., Batorowicz, Beata, Ladislas Derr, Robert, Peters, Sarah, Jones J.K., Batorowicz B., Derr R.L. and Petersa S.. 2015. "Decolonising research and teaching methodologies: A “ninth moment” symphony of artist-educator-researcher voices." International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning. 10 (2), pp. 166-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/22040552.2015.1113849
Current trends in university-community partnerships: the arts as an engine for cooperative development [Keynote]
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "Current trends in university-community partnerships: the arts as an engine for cooperative development [Keynote]." 1st International Conference of University Community Engagement (ICUCE 2014): Redefining University-Community Engagement . Makassar, Indonesia 25 - 28 Nov 2014 Makassar, Indonesia.
The challenge to write: dangerous and disruptive words
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "The challenge to write: dangerous and disruptive words." Pedagogy, Language, Arts and Culture in Education Group Seminar (PLACE 2014). Cambridge, United Kingdom 28 May 2014 Cambridge, United Kingdom.
As a creative writer myself, will I become a more creative teacher?
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "As a creative writer myself, will I become a more creative teacher?" O'Neill, Shirley (ed.) 1st International Conference on Deep Languages Education Policy and Practices (INLEPS 2014): Stimulating Languages Learning: Global Perspectives and Local Practice. Brisbane, Australia 11 - 12 Oct 2014
Re-framing education as a thirdspace: neonarratives of pedagogy, power and transformation
Jones, Janice K.. 2012. "Re-framing education as a thirdspace: neonarratives of pedagogy, power and transformation." University of Exeter Graduate School of Education Research Seminar (2012). Exeter, United Kingdom 24 Oct 2012 Exeter, United Kingdom.
Do we have to go outside? Millenial pre-service teachers discovering nature, creativity and self confidence
Jones, Janice K.. 2010. "Do we have to go outside? Millenial pre-service teachers discovering nature, creativity and self confidence." Webster, Beverley (ed.) CETL 2010: Enhancing Learning Experiences in Higher Education. Pok Fu Lam, China 02 - 03 Dec 2010 Hong Kong.
Contemporary capacity-building in educational contexts
Danaher, Patrick Alan, Davies, Andy, De George-Walker, Linda, Jones, Janice K., Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Arden, Catherine H. and Baguley, Margaret. 2014. Contemporary capacity-building in educational contexts. Basingstoke, United Kingdom. Palgrave Macmillan.
Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research
Jones, Janice K.. Jones, Janice K. (ed.) 2014. Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Bridging the gap between rhetoric and practice: data from 4 studies into the arts and creative writing for personal and professional learning
Jones, Janice K.. 2013. "Bridging the gap between rhetoric and practice: data from 4 studies into the arts and creative writing for personal and professional learning." White, Julie (ed.) Annual International Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education 2013 (AARE 2013): Shaping Australian Educational Research. Adelaide, Australia 01 - 05 Dec 2013 Melbourne, Australia.
Disrupting the label: a 4D research method for re-constituting 'the other' and 'othered' through theory, narrative, metaphor and constructive conversation
Findlay, Yvonne S. and Jones, Janice K.. 2013. "Disrupting the label: a 4D research method for re-constituting 'the other' and 'othered' through theory, narrative, metaphor and constructive conversation." White, Julie (ed.) Annual International Conference of the Australian Association for Research in Education 2013 (AARE 2013): Shaping Australian Educational Research. Adelaide, Australia 01 - 05 Dec 2013 Melbourne, Australia.
The challenge to write: the warp, the weft and the space between
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "The challenge to write: the warp, the weft and the space between." Jones, Janice K. (ed.) Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 11-35
Constraints, creativity and challenges: educators and students writing together
Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "Constraints, creativity and challenges: educators and students writing together." Jones, Janice K. (ed.) Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 173-202
Uisge Beatha: the ebb and flow of four tides
Findlay, Yvonne Stewart and Jones, Janice K.. 2014. "Uisge Beatha: the ebb and flow of four tides." Jones, Janice K. (ed.) Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 37-53
Dinawan Dreaming: seeing the darkness or the stars
Jones, Janice K., Moodie, Donna and Hobson, Nicole. 2014. "Dinawan Dreaming: seeing the darkness or the stars." Jones, Janice K. (ed.) Weaving words: personal and professional transformation through writing as research. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom . Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 81-102
The transformative capacity of play and the arts for learning and student engagement: implications for pre-service teacher education
Jones, Janice K.. 2012. "The transformative capacity of play and the arts for learning and student engagement: implications for pre-service teacher education." Pedagogy, Language, Arts and Culture in Education Group Seminars (PLACE 2012). Cambridge, United Kingdon 19 Sep 2012 London, United Kingdom.
Weaving the threads of time: narrative methods in participatory research
Jones, Janice Kathleen. 2012. "Weaving the threads of time: narrative methods in participatory research." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle Upon Tyne, united Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 218-239
Evaluating our research team's first three years to identify broader strategies for effective and sustainable capacity constructions
Tyler, Mark A., Turner, Michelle, Peel, Karen, Oliver, Mark E., Noble, Karen, Midgley, Warren, McLennan, Brad, McIlveen, Peter, Matthews, Karl J., Jones, Janice Kathleen, Henderson, Robyn, Fogarty, Roderick J., De George-Walker, Linda, Davies, Andrew, Danaher, Patrick Alan, Baguley, Margaret and Arden, Catherine H.. 2012. "Evaluating our research team's first three years to identify broader strategies for effective and sustainable capacity constructions." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Robyn, Henderson, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 256-275
Analysing approaches to constructing capacities
Arden, Catherine H., Baguley, Margaret, Danaher, Patrick Alan, Davies, Andrew, De George-Walker, Linda, Fogarty, Roderick J., Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Jones, Janice, McIlveen, Peter, McLennan, Brad, Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Oliver, Mark E., Peel, Karen, Turner, Michelle and Tyler, Mark A.. 2012. "Analysing approaches to constructing capacities." Danaher, Patrick Alan, De George-Walker, Linda, Henderson, Robyn, Matthews, Karl J., Midgley, Warren, Noble, Karen, Tyler, Mark A. and Arden, Catherine H. (ed.) Constructing capacities: building capabilities through learning and engagement. Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 4-30
Rejuvenation Island: enriching the learning journey through immersion in virtual restorative environments
Farley, Helen, Jones, Janice K. and Murphy, Angela. 2012. "Rejuvenation Island: enriching the learning journey through immersion in virtual restorative environments." Brown, M., Hartnett, M. and Stewart, T. (ed.) 29th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2012). Wellington, New Zealand 25 - 28 Nov 2012 Wellington, New Zealand.
Re-discovering the arts: the impact of engagement in a natural environment upon pre-service teacher perceptions of creativity
Jones, Janice K.. 2013. "Re-discovering the arts: the impact of engagement in a natural environment upon pre-service teacher perceptions of creativity." Thinking Skills and Creativity. 8 (1), pp. 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2012.08.001
Pre-service teachers' experiences of creativity and enhanced appreciation of natural environments
Jones, Janice Kathleen. 2012. "Pre-service teachers' experiences of creativity and enhanced appreciation of natural environments." Shoniregun, Charles, A. and Akmayeva, Galyna, A. (ed.) 2012 Canada International Conference on Education (CICE-2012). Guelph, Canada 18 - 21 Jun 2012 London, UK.
An informal community of practice: The case of the DEhub virtual worlds working group
Farley, Helen, Gregory, Sue, Grant, Scott, Butler, Des, Jacka, Lisa, Orwin, Lindy and Jones, Janice K.. 2012. "An informal community of practice: The case of the DEhub virtual worlds working group." Brown, M., Hartnett, M. and Stewart, T. (ed.) 29th Annual Conference of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2012). Wellington, New Zealand 25 - 28 Nov 2012 Australia.
Confronting the snake in the garden of community engagement: a school and university partnership for sustainability
Jones, Janice K.. 2008. "Confronting the snake in the garden of community engagement: a school and university partnership for sustainability." AUCEA National Conference 2008: Engaging for a Sustainable Future. Sunshine Coast, Australia 09 - 11 Jul 2008 Kyneton, Australia.
Hobby horses
Jones, Janice Kathleen. 2009. "Hobby horses ." Carlisle, Rodney P. and Golson, J. (ed.) Encyclopedia of play in today's society. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA. SAGE Publications Ltd.
In the third space: the storied self, uncertainty and transition
Jones, Janice. 2008. "In the third space: the storied self, uncertainty and transition." Henderson, Robyn and Danaher, Patrick Alan (ed.) Troubling terrains: tactics for traversing and transforming contemporary educaitonal research. Brisbane, Australia. Post Pressed. pp. 193-210
The storied self: deconstructing the constructivist teacher
Jones, Janice Kathleen. 2008. "The storied self: deconstructing the constructivist teacher ." 4th International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry: Ethics, Evidence and Social Justice. University of Illinois, United States 14 - 17 May 2008 Urbana-Champaign, United States.
Work in progress: the Magic Gardens Project: a child-developed curriculum in a non-traditional school meeting state targets for the arts
Jones, Janice K.. 2006. "Work in progress: the Magic Gardens Project: a child-developed curriculum in a non-traditional school meeting state targets for the arts." The International Journal of the Arts in Society. I (1), pp. 1-17.