Showing posts with label Technology and culture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology and culture. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Edited book on Ethnography of Material Culture, Technology, and Everyday Life

Edited book on Ethnography of Material Culture, Technology, and Everyday Life
Deadline: September 1, 2007

I am seeking proposals of original writings for a forthcoming edited book tentatively titled: “Mundane Stuff: Ethnographic Approaches to Technology as Material Culture.” The deadline for proposal submission is September 1, 2007. Completed chapters would be due some time in the spring of 2008. Serious publisher interest in this book has already been expressed. The writing is intended to be classroom friendly, though the intended audience is comprised mainly of graduate students and scholars.

Studying technology as everyday life material culture means demystifying technology and approaching technics (i.e. material objects) and techniques (i.e. tactics, strategies) as pragmatic ways of attributing meaning to the world while simultaneously shaping it. Such as an approach calls for reflexive, creative, situated ethnographic research strategies which employ both abstract knowledge and mundane practices of meaning-making while attempting to understand both users and material objects.

I am seeking three types of proposed chapters.

1. Theoretical chapters which provide both an overview and reflection on one of the following analytical perspectives on technology as everyday life material culture: symbolic interactionism, actor-network theory, cultural studies, and phenomenology. Required length: 5,500 words.

2. Methodological chapters which offer both overview and reflection on the ethnographic study and representation of technology as material culture from the angle of one of the following approaches: performance ethnography, visual ethnography, narrative ethnography, analytical ethnography. Required length: 5,500 words.

3. Empirical chapters which focus on the reporting of original ethnographic research on technology as material culture. Possible topics are limitless. For example, they may include the study of domestic objects, means of transportation, clothing and other body-modifying/adorning objects, workplace objects, toys, etc. Approximate required length: 7,500 words.

If you are interested please submit a tentative title, 100/150 word abstract, and author bio to Phillip Vannini: Phillip.Vannini@Royalroads.ca or simply contact me to discuss ideas or ask for more information.

Phillip Vannini, PhD
Assistant Professor
School of Communication and Culture
2005 Sooke Road
Royal Roads University
Victoria BC V9B 5Y2
CANADA
Phone: (250) 391-2600 ext. 4477 (no voice mail)
Fax: (250) 391-2694
Email: phillip.vannini@royalroads.ca

Friday, May 25, 2007

Newberry Seminar on Technology, Politics & Culture: 2007-2008 Call for Papers

Newberry Seminar on Technology, Politics & Culture: 2007-2008 Call for Papers Location: Illinois, United States
Call for Papers Date: 2007-06-15
Date Submitted: 2007-05-03

The Newberry Library Seminar on Technology, Politics, and Culture Co-sponsored by the History Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Roosevelt University, and Northwestern University’s School of Communications

CALL FOR PAPERS for the 2007–08 academic year Deadline for Submission: 15 June 2007

This seminar provides a forum for research projects and for works-in-progress that explore questions, tensions, resolutions, and relationships across technology, politics, and culture. Papers might address topics in the intellectual and social history of technology broadly conceived, including aspects of institutional systems, communications, management, business, labor, law, policy, or government. We are interested in a broad range of conceptual and temporal approaches. Two areas of special interest are pre-1900 topics and comparative or global work extending beyond the United States.

The seminar is open to graduate students, faculty members, independent scholars, and professionals in related fields, such as engineering and urban planning. To maximize time for discussion, papers are circulated electronically in advance. Priority is given to individuals who are at a stage of their research at which they can best profit from discussion, and to individuals who need a venue to present their work. The seminar meets on selected Fridays during the academic year, 3:30–5:00 PM, at the Newberry Library in Chicago.To propose a paper, please send a one-page proposal, a statement explaining the relationship of the paper to your other work, and a brief c.v. to Diane Dillon, Assistant Director, Dr. William M. Scholl Center for Family and Community History, The Newberry Library. Please send all materials as electronic attachments via email to: scholl@newberry.org.

If you are interested in proposing a paper and have questions, please contact the seminar coordinator, James Schwoch (Northwestern University, j-schwoch@northwestern.edu; (847) 491-7361).

The Newberry Library is unable to provide funds for travel or lodging, but can provide assistance in locating discounted accommodations.

Dr. William M. Scholl Center for Family and Community History
The Newberry Library
60 W. Walton St.
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 255-3524/ scholl@newberry.org
http://www.newberry.org