This chapter presents and discusses a three level theoretical approach to analyzing the different ways in which literacy is represented in policy discourses and everyday practices. It integrates existing theoretical resources to form a model as follows: a broad ontology of sociomaterial theory, a middle level theory derived from literacy studies and a the use of specific varieties of social semiotic theory for close analysis of multi-modal representations as image, number and text.

Chapter in: Yasukawa, K. and Black, S. Beyond Economic Interests Critical Perspectives on Adult Literacy and Numeracy in a Globalised World.