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So then it is the "projects" that are fluid? i.e., they seep into different configurations of persons and swish around in our social worlds? -greg On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 11:52 PM, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net> wrote: > As long ago as 1848 Marx said "all that is solid melts into air", and I do > think this is the number one problem of our day. But actually I think it > misses the point to ask if "it will be even harder today to try to find > bonds that 'interlock individual choices in collective projects and > actions.'" The destruction of the fabric of social life by neoliberalism > *is* a problem, but the point is that projects *are* that fabric. > > It is not a quesiton of "political actions of human collectivities" but > rather that instead of "collectivities" which are pre-formed groups of > people which then decide to do actions, but on the contrary groups and the > bonds which tie them are the *product of projects*. The fabric itself is > projects. "Project" is the unit of analysis, not an abstraction formed by > adding aims and actions to groups. > > Andy > > Greg Thompson wrote: > >> Andy (and others interested in projects/systems of activity/living >> artifacts/etc.), >> >> And I think Zygmunt Bauman (in Liquid Modernity), when speaking of >> melting in late modernity of previously solid social forms of life, puts a >> particularly sharp point on my question (and yours?): >> >> "The solids whose turn has come to be thrown into the melting pot and >> which are in the process of being melted at the present time, the time of >> fluid modernity, are the bonds which interlock individual choices in >> collective projects and actions - the patterns of communication and >> co-ordination between individually conducted life policies on the one hand >> and political actions of human collectivities on the other." (p. 6). >> >> This suggests that it will be even harder today to try to find bonds that >> "interlock individual choices in collective projects and actions." This >> takes it a step farther back from the projects to: How can we re-form these >> bonds? >> Or maybe we need a new way of conceiving of the project and of "projects" >> altogether? Fluid and ephemeral projects that flow about, mix with, seep >> into, and spread out? >> >> How to do this? >> -greg >> >> On Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 6:08 PM, Andy Blunden <ablunden@mira.net <mailto: >> ablunden@mira.net>> wrote: >> >> Yes, Greg, the notion of Recognition demonstrated in Hegel's >> Philosophy of Right I fully embrace, particularly because it is >> realised through a concept of mediation, rather than as an >> alternative to mediation, as it is found in some modern writing. >> And yes, I see this idea as to be realised through the idea of the >> formation of collaborative projects, rather than "groups" and >> associations. >> >> Andy >> >> Greg Thompson wrote: >> >> As for the centrifugal forces that hold these entities >> together (whether >> you call them "systems of activity" or "projects"), I want to >> humbly add >> the importance of the Hegelian notion of "recognition." It >> seems to me that >> one of the critical functions of these entities is to provide >> recognition >> for individuals - to consummate them (to use Bakhtin's >> language). With the >> liquidity of identity that Ivan speaks of in modernity, it is >> these >> entities that provide for the moments of recognition that hold >> together our >> own selves as identities that can act agentively. And this is >> important. >> >> In Philosophy of Right, Hegel introduces the idea and >> importance of >> "corporations." These serve important functions of providing >> recognition (a >> give and take between individual and group), but also >> practical matters >> like distribution of resources and the development of individual's >> abilities. Isn't this quite similar to what is behind the >> ideas being >> discussed here? Andy? >> >> Here is a quote from Hegel's Lectures on Philosophy of Right >> that speaks to >> the obligations of wealthy in a "corporation" (really more of >> a "trade >> union" or something like that, but def. not the "corporation" >> that we speak >> of today): >> >> >> “But in the corporation the individual has his true >> consciousness and here >> he has a genuine noble opportunity to acquire honor. In the >> corporation the >> corruption of wealth is set aside…. In the corporation wealth >> is no longer >> an end in itself. He has duties in this circle…. Here he >> becomes something >> through the way he applies his wealth for the sake of his >> cooperative >> association.” >> H has much more to say about the importance of recognition for >> the poor as >> well due to their obligations to the corporation (whether or >> not this is >> built into the collaboration between TCLC and UCSD is a >> difficult thing to >> address. I think the families at TCLC have obligations to TCLC >> but their >> obligations and gift-giving to UCSD are not clear - this >> despite Mike's >> insistence upon them to the UCSD audience! The apparent (to most) >> one-sidedness of this kind of gift-giving creates a one sided >> moment of >> recognition where UCSD always has the upper hand (see M. Mauss >> on "no free >> gifts"). >> >> All of this speaks to an important issue in the U.S., namely >> the Grand >> Canyon that exists between rich and poor. The critical >> question in the U.S. >> is: where will such "corporations" come from? Where can the >> rich and poor >> cooperatively come together in a land that is literally >> structured by >> income - where how much you make determines where you live? >> Communities >> here are de facto segregated by income. (yes, there are some >> exceptions to >> this rule). >> >> I think the TCLC partnership provides a means for this kind of >> (temporary) >> creation of community (corporation) that crosses income lines. >> Unfortunately, most of what makes up the "corporation", i.e., the >> undergrads, is rather fleeting. Twice a week for 10 weeks in >> and out. And >> folks at LCHC are clearly concerned about the value of this >> for the TCLC >> kids. It is sometimes hard not to think that the undergrads >> get more out of >> those 10 weeks than the TCLC kids do. But, even if this is the >> case, it is >> eye opening for those often privileged undergrads. And it is >> hard to >> imagine anywhere in the U.S. where the building of cross-income >> corporations is being done any better (Occupy Wall Street has >> very mixed >> results in this regard, For a critique of the middle-class >> white elitism of >> OWS, see: http://www.voxunion.com/?p=**4592<http://www.voxunion.com/?p=4592> >> ). >> >> -greg >> >> >> >> >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 5:04 PM, Ivan Rosero <irosero@ucsd.edu >> <mailto:irosero@ucsd.edu>> wrote: >> >> >> I can see the reason for the excitement, and as I've come >> of age at LCHC >> over the last few years, it is this issue --what to call, >> how to frame >> analytically and explore methodologically, and what >> theoretical >> characterization to give these "meso zones"-- that has >> been the most >> salient issue for me. >> >> If it is true that identity is liquid, and we move from >> one identity >> instantiation to another, then there must be accompanying >> socio-material >> formations within which such identities can be had while being >> simultaneously porous and loose enough to allow relatively >> unproblematic >> entry/exit. No doubt that there are longer-lived >> structuring structures >> within which, and relative to which, these meso-scale >> formations come to >> life, but those are not the proximal site of interest >> here. Further, those >> meso-scale formations that result from purposeful (and >> vulnerable) coming >> together without any guarantee of anything, are special >> indeed. >> >> I fear the abstract here, but I will say at least that >> these things, for >> me, are a kind of prolepsis engine, formations through >> which different >> possibilities of how future arrangements might be >> organized are tried out >> in vivo, with all the complexities of the real thing >> because, well, they >> are the real thing! >> >> The lack of clear-cut language is not surprising, because >> at the moment the >> pull inward that participants undergo around these >> collaborative >> partnerships, in my experience, surfaces as an ethical >> aesthetic which does >> not yet enjoy the clarity of a full blown political >> program of action. >> There might even be more than a little fatigue with the >> latter, and more >> of a desire to explore different ways of being together >> that do not require >> (and may die as soon as these are reached) clear >> categories and conceptual >> pronouncements. >> >> ivan >> >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 4:03 PM, Andy Blunden >> <ablunden@mira.net <mailto:ablunden@mira.net>> wrote: >> >> >> Eugene Matusov has an article in Outlines on the topic >> of the >> sustainability of these projects: >> http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.** >> dk/index.php/outlines/article/****view/2662< >> >> http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.**dk/index.php/outlines/article/** >> view/2662<http://ojs.statsbiblioteket.dk/index.php/outlines/article/view/2662> >> >where >> he says: "The success of our after-school partnership >> between a >> >> community center and our university's School of >> Education does not >> necessarily require ... a common vision between >> partners or even >> >> compatible >> >> visions." I would welcome comments on this view. >> >> Also, what is the story with the Laboratory School at >> UCLA? >> Andy >> >> >> Andy Blunden wrote: >> >> >> By "crisis," Ivan, I had in mind just the kind of >> situation you describe >> in southern San Diego. >> >> As I reported to Mike at the time, when I read >> "Cultural Psychology" a >> few years ago, I got really excited, not so much >> because of the specific >> teaching and learning methods that were going to >> be used, but rather >> >> that - >> >> like the climax of a detective novel - Mike had >> identified the culprit, >> >> the >> >> research problem that lay at the heart of problems >> of poverty and >> illiteracy in developed countries - /how is it >> possible to sustain a >> project/? what characterises a /sustainable >> project/? This revelation >> >> was >> >> crucial in my coming to the conclusion that the >> molar unit of analysis >> >> for >> >> CHAT had to be the /collaborative project/, athe >> conclusion which I >> >> drew in >> >> my book published earlier this year, "An >> Interdisciplinary Theory of >> Activity." >> >> This did not mean of course that I had the answer >> - Heavens! a concrete >> answer to teh question of what sustains a >> collaborative project is the >> answer to all the problems of modernity. It is a >> clear definition, in my >> view, of the problem, the "germ cell" for an >> understanding of modern >> >> social >> >> life. It is what really needs to be studied. >> >> "Collaborative project" is not just a special >> topic or one choice for >> making interventions, because (1) "Project," in my >> view, is a much >> >> better >> >> way of concieving of the unit of social life than >> "system of activity." >> >> In >> >> particular, the relation between the so-called >> object and "system." For >> >> a >> >> project, the aim is not something separate which >> gets added to the >> >> system >> >> of activity, but is /immanent in the project >> itself/. It is emergent. >> >> It is >> >> "realised." (2) "Collaboration" is the >> fundamental, normative >> >> relationship >> >> between people of modern life. So it is an >> adequate definition of what >> >> we >> >> need to be studying when we do research into human >> life. We need to >> understand collaboration. But fairly few CHAT >> researchers (let alone >> >> anyone >> >> else) make this explicit and upfront. >> Collaboration is only possible if >> there is a project to collaborate on and all >> projects are collaborative. >> Concepts originate as the immanent realised aims >> of projects. So >> collaborative projects form the units of our >> psychic life just as they >> >> are >> >> the units of our social life. So as a unit of >> /analysis/, collaborative >> projects reflect collaborative projects as the >> *real* unit of social >> >> life. >> >> So you can understand how excited I was to read >> your article in /Theory >> >> & >> >> Psychology/! >> Andy >> >> Ivan Rosero wrote: >> >> >> Well, bankruptcies can still make more than a >> few very rich, so the >> >> "we" >> >> and "our" in this building of habitable >> imaginaries presupposes a prior >> set >> of other imaginaries through to come together >> anew, and perhaps >> differently, even if we think we know each >> other --or, in other words, >> >> to >> >> give each other space to be other things, to >> be strangers in creative >> ways >> in order to have any hope of reinventing and >> in*forming what we do in >> such >> a way to make it more hospitable. >> >> As it happens, one tendril that continues to >> pass through Town and >> Country, >> but is now much more active elsewhere in >> southeast San Diego, is a >> >> strong >> >> connection to the food system change movement, >> which another graduate >> student at LCHC is exploring after having >> dwelt for a while at T&C. >> >> Here >> >> is one of its core members, Diane Moss (quoted in >> http://www.voiceofsandiego.**** >> org/people/q_and_a/article_** >> cde3547e-f6b1-11e0-bfba-****001cc4c03286.html< >> >> http://www.voiceofsandiego.**org/people/q_and_a/article_** >> cde3547e-f6b1-11e0-bfba-**001cc4c03286.html<http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/people/q_and_a/article_cde3547e-f6b1-11e0-bfba-001cc4c03286.html> >> >> ) >> who we know personally, answering a few >> questions in a way that >> concretizes >> the shape of a few new imaginaries that we >> here at LCHC have been drawn >> into: >> >> >> *What happened when you came back from that >> workshop in 2008?* >> >> I started seeing empty lots and seeing they >> could be used for other >> purposes. I saw that we probably had the >> ability to grow our own food. >> >> I bet on any block in southeastern San Diego, >> somebody's growing >> something >> in their backyard: collard greens, corn. We >> started looking at how we >> could >> take that talent and start having >> conversations about collective >> >> growing >> >> or >> community gardens. Even though we didn't use >> the term "food desert" at >> that >> time, we talked about why we didn't have the >> same markets everyone else >> has. >> >> *Why didn't you like "food desert"?* >> >> I thought desert meant nothing — that you had >> nothing to build on. I >> said, >> well, we've got people who grow things. We're >> not starting from >> >> scratch. >> >> But I embraced it when I became familiar with >> another definition: that >> there are more fast food outlets than fresh >> food outlets. >> >> *You hadn't thought about access to good food >> in this community as a >> problem before 2008?* >> >> Southeastern San Diego always gets tagged as a >> community with lots of >> problems. So here was another negative tag >> people put on this >> >> community. >> >> I >> saw that we didn't have the resources we >> needed, but I didn't think of >> >> it >> >> in terms of a food desert. >> >> *What have been the biggest challenges to >> getting people involved?* >> >> People say yes, we should have gardens. But >> it's difficult for people >> >> to >> >> change their habits. >> >> *How do you change habits?* >> >> It takes time. Neighbors talking to neighbors. >> People taking a chance >> >> to >> >> do >> something different. >> >> ------- >> LCHC has been fortunate beyond any expectation >> to have entered into >> >> this >> >> new collaboration and the mesh of actors it >> pulls together. >> >> Ivan >> >> >> >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 11:54 AM, Larry Purss >> <lpscholar2@gmail.com >> <mailto:lpscholar2@gmail.com>> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> My response to this thread is an extension >> of the notion of >> "ambivalence" >> at the heart and soul of all social >> imaginaries. >> It was mentioned that the motivating force >> to "keep going" without >> clarity >> of intention or goals is the "felt sense" >> of social BANKRUPTCY >> >> [economic >> >> metaphor] in the current social imaginary. >> Zygmunt Bauman uses the >> >> very >> >> extreme metaphor of "waste" in his 2004 >> book to stir the ambivalence >> >> at >> >> the >> center of our current social imaginary. >> Ingold's article I recently >> posted >> captured the 12 century social imaginary >> where walking, texts, >> architecture, discourse, and contemplation >> were all manifestations of >> >> a >> >> single ontology. All these objects >> expressed a social imaginary that >> >> did >> >> not have some of the object "representing" >> the "underlying" social >> imaginary but rather were ALL immanebt >> manifestations of the SAME >> >> social >> >> imaginary. >> >> Modernity [the tension between >> enlightenment and romanitic >> >> hermeneutical >> >> ideas/ideals] also may have an >> encompassing social imaginary that has >> >> a >> >> fundamental rupture [ambivalence] in the >> notion of "representation" as >> expressing some "underlying" reality >> [realization] when in actuality the modern >> walks, texts, architecture, >> discourses and contemplations are >> expressions of a monolithic social >> imaginary. >> Bauman's analysis of modernity [he is an >> "exile" from the holocaust] >> >> has >> >> situated ambivalence at the heart of ALL >> social imaginaries when >> realized >> express "order" or "structure" which >> requires LIMITING formations. >> This is >> the core idea of sociology. Baumans >> emancipatory vision for >> sociological >> imagination [in which he generates >> multiple metaphors] is to explicate >> the >> ambivalence at the heart of modernity >> leading to social bankruptcy. It >> is >> the reality of this ambivalence in our >> current modern social imaginary >> where Bauman locates hope and the >> possibility for emancipation from >> >> the >> >> "waste lands". >> Bauman purposely is exploring the power of >> the metaphor of "waste" to >> grasp >> the desolation of our current >> arrangements. For Bauman the metaphor of >> "waste" as the by-product of our >> "productions" in our "garden >> >> contexts" >> >> [another metaphor which the Nazi's used to >> create a social imaginary >> where >> Jews were "weeds" in the garden] is >> grasping the fundamental >> ambivalence >> at the heart of our social bankruptcy. >> For Bauman and many others who are >> searching for a new orientation in >> our >> globalized planetary social imaginary the >> metaphor of "the suffering >> stranger" travelling in the waste lands is >> the moral calling >> >> requiring a >> >> response as a growing "response-ability" >> as a "skill" developing >> >> within >> >> a >> "new commons". >> We need new "practises" and new "texts" >> and also new discourses and >> >> new >> >> forms of contemplation. However, I'm >> wondering how central to >> transcending >> our current social imaginary, which is now >> a wasteland, are new forms >> >> of >> >> architecture which express the yearning to >> respond to the suffering >> stranger. >> >> In summary, the larger contexts being >> explored may be >> >> cultural-semiotic >> >> imaginaries that must become realized >> within a new commons which must >> >> be >> >> in*formed to "hold" the suffering stranger >> in our midst [difference >> >> and >> >> alterity and weeds and waste as the >> ambivalence at the heart of the >> modern >> vision of the garden] >> >> Accountability, measurement, statistics, >> as our current social >> imaginary of >> cultural and social "order" at its heart >> has the cavity of the >> >> suffering >> >> stranger that is now calling for a >> response and a new cultural and >> social >> order in a new commons which must be >> in*formed as our response-ability >> to >> the call of the other. >> >> Bauman's notion of "waste" and "waste >> lands" as by-products of our >> globalized social imaginary calls for an >> alternative social imaginary >> that >> exists in the ambivalence at the heart of >> our current world order. >> >> Larry >> On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 9:57 AM, Ivan >> Rosero <irosero@ucsd.edu >> <mailto:irosero@ucsd.edu>> >> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> Arturo, two things coincide for me in >> reading your email: 1) I've >> >> been >> >> working for the last 4 years in the >> same collaboration that >> Lecusay,Downing-Wilson,Cole have >> written about, and 2) I too share >> >> the >> >> following concern: >> >> ---- >> CHAT keeps operating with a process >> and methodological >> ontology whereby the individual and >> the social are inseparable but >> does not provide a clear cut language >> of description of how the >> >> social >> >> structure shapes activity or, to put >> it in Seeger's terms, how power >> shapes discourse (and consciousness >> and identy). >> ---- >> >> As the authors have described, the >> community setting in which this >> latest >> of LCHC's projects has unfolded does >> not permit even the relatively >> loose >> structures that were the hallmarks of >> previous 5D projects --this is >> >> >> >> where >> >> >> >> the ad-hoc stumbling upon interesting >> things to do together is such >> >> an >> >> important component of the dual sense >> of "appropriation". In the >> social >> space that has been created between >> LCHC and Town and Country there >> >> >> >> exists >> >> >> >> (as I have experienced it over the >> last four years) an enduring >> >> >> >> liminality >> >> >> >> that refuses to come to closure >> --neither LCHC participants, >> >> including >> >> >> grad >> >> >> >> students, staff, and undergraduate >> students, nor T&C participants >> >> have >> >> arrived at any definite position vis a >> vis what we are doing >> >> together. >> >> >> The >> >> >> >> kids get older, new ones arrive, some >> teens have left, club and group >> structures change, entire families >> move out. UCSD's side of the >> >> story >> >> is >> more predictable in the institutional >> sense of allowing year-on-year >> planning of classes and recruitment of >> students, as well as, of >> >> course, >> >> >> the >> >> >> >> staying power of UCSD as a much longer >> running process than the >> collaboration itself. But this can >> only explain the brute sense of >> >> our >> >> continued presence, one which would be >> impossible to impose in any >> case, >> >> >> >> so >> >> >> >> that we still have to try and explain >> the delicate sense of our >> continued >> presence --what is happening in the >> space of this >> cross-cultural/cross-****institutional >> intersection that keeps pulling >> >> >> >> together >> >> >> >> (in a delicate way) such a >> heterogenous amalgam of participants --a >> constant churn of undergraduate >> buddies, a more stable set of grad >> students, a constant, but slowly >> changing, stream of kids, Ms. V., >> >> and >> >> >> the >> >> >> >> few community parents that regularly >> lend a hand? >> >> You and Andy have said that there must >> be some kind of crisis, and >> >> this >> >> >> may >> >> >> >> be so, but if this is what is allowing >> the participants to come >> together >> anew, it is not the kind of crisis >> that can be compared to, say, >> >> Occupy >> >> Wall Street, or Greece, or the Arab >> Spring. It might be that I lack >> the >> requisite social imagination, but the >> way I see it, what is special >> about >> this collaboration is that it holds >> together without disclosing to >> >> its >> >> participants directly how this is >> happening. We have been at it for >> four >> years, and it isn't obvious to me why, >> as a T&C elder says, we "keep >> >> on >> >> keeping on". This is especially true >> in light of severe, and >> recurrent, >> frustrations on every side. For >> example, in the absence of UCSD >> >> >> >> students, >> >> >> >> homework does not get done nearly as >> regularly as when they are there >> --this creates a huge problem for Ms. >> V, who must still try to >> >> satisfy >> >> >> this >> >> >> >> community need in our absence. >> Sometimes we at LCHC find ourselves >> >> at >> >> >> odds >> >> >> >> with local customs and decisions, to >> which we nevertheless submit in >> >> >> >> order >> >> >> >> to keep on keeping on. But where are >> we keeping on to? (Especially >> without access to clear-cut language >> with which to explain any of >> this!) >> >> So, these kinds of open-ended >> interactional spaces elicit from their >> participants a degree of patience that >> is rarely seen anywhere --more >> or >> less equally distributed! Southeast >> San Diego, where T&C is located, >> is >> not unique in all the ways that its >> inhabitants are systematically >> marginalized, and it is a fact that >> local community organizers (I've >> been >> at some of their meetings) look on >> UCSD and charitable institutions >> with >> very suspicious eyes. In the face of >> these realities, mutual >> >> >> >> appropriation >> >> >> >> is one factor, but not a wholly >> explanatory one for the loose >> holding-together that is going on here. >> >> Whatever the answers are, it is >> impossible for me to conceive of a >> satisfying explanation that does not >> include affective-imaginative >> dimensions. The way I see it, the >> mystery here is not how >> >> >> >> power/structure >> >> >> >> shapes discourse/activity, it is why >> this collaboration holds in the >> face >> of what would normally be >> insurmountable difficulties. Good >> will and >> patience all around? Maybe, but this >> only pushes the question deeper >> >> >> >> into >> >> >> >> the affective-imaginative life of this >> collaboration. >> >> Ivan >> >> >> On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 6:26 PM, Andy >> Blunden <ablunden@mira.net >> <mailto:ablunden@mira.net>> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> Continuing my sharing of the >> current edition of Theory & Psyhology, >> attached are scans of Deborah >> Downing-Wilson, Robert Lecusay and >> >> Mike >> >> Cole's paper (which I have been so >> excited about) and the first 16 >> >> >> >> pages >> >> >> of >> >> >> >> Yrjo Engestrom's paper (I have >> omitted the case study) which is a >> >> >> >> concise >> >> >> synopsis of his current views on >> activity and concepts. >> >> Andy >> >> >> Andy Blunden wrote: >> >> >> >> >> That's a very interesting >> series of points, Arturo! >> Could I just ask you to >> elaborate a little on what you >> meant by >> >> "the >> >> unconscious in sign-making" >> and "the problem of fetishism >> of the >> >> >> >> sign." >> >> >> I guess that you are right that in >> almost any social context (the US >> >> included I suspect), the kind >> of project that Mike writes >> about can >> >> >> >> only be >> >> >> implemented by surruptitiously >> moving the goal posts set by the >> >> >> recognised >> >> >> authorities, by a kind of >> subversion, making use of openings >> created >> >> >> by >> >> >> manifest social crisis. >> >> As I'm sure you know, I am in >> agreement with your critique >> of the >> >> >> >> failure >> >> >> to satisfactorily "marry" >> psychological concepts with >> sociological >> >> concepts, in CHAT or anywhere >> else for that matter. But >> doesn't the >> >> >> >> kind of >> >> >> project Mike is talking about, >> where goals are immanent in the >> >> project >> >> itself, and the project is >> thoroughly and explicitly >> collaborative, >> go >> >> >> >> some >> >> >> way to addressing this problem? >> >> Andy >> >> Arturo Escandon wrote: >> >> >> >> >> Just wanted to point out >> that there are places >> where you cannot >> >> even >> >> think of implementing a >> simple plain standard >> design experiment, >> >> let >> >> alone an ad-hoc >> intervention because >> educational settings and >> institutions are thought >> to be mere knowledge >> reproduction-distribution >> centers. Research is the >> job of the >> >> >> >> Ministry >> >> >> of Education. "Joint activity"? What >> on Earth is that in Japan except >> >> the illusion of freedom >> framed under top-down >> cosmological >> structure. >> I am afraid that most of >> the cases depicted in the >> journal are a >> reproduction of the >> cultural conditions >> existing in few settings, >> >> in >> >> few communities, in a >> handful of countries. Am I >> able to implement >> an >> intervention or mutual >> appropriation in the >> Japanese educational >> context? No. Am I able to >> do it in "local >> communities", yes, but >> >> >> >> under >> >> >> considerable restrictions. However, I >> am guessing that the most >> >> effective interventions in >> local communities spring >> from social >> crisis, not from planned >> activity, that is, some >> sort of >> >> punctuated >> >> equilibrium in which the >> community changes or perish. >> >> I am very curious about >> (1) how the structural >> constraints and >> affordances of >> organisations themselves >> shape those mutual >> appropriations and how we >> can account for them; (2) >> how the >> mediating >> means themselves are >> unequally distributed >> (knowledge >> >> differential): >> >> in order to bridge the >> differences established by >> the lack of a >> >> >> >> common >> >> >> repertoire of meanings you have to >> engage in meaning making, creating >> >> in fact a new >> differential; (3) the >> unconscious in sign-making or >> using activity. >> Educational activity >> brings consciousness at the >> expense of bringing >> unconsciousness as well. I >> have not read a >> single >> decisive work addressing >> the problem of fetishism >> of the sign, on >> which a theory of the >> uncosciousness could be >> integrated into >> >> CHAT, >> >> except for works that deal >> with the problem of "the >> ideal". >> >> Seeger asks the right >> questions but I believe >> there is much more >> >> out >> >> there about ways of >> marriaging psychology and >> sociology to give a >> better account of agency. >> At the end, the issues >> raised by Sawyer >> are >> still relevant: CHAT keeps >> operating with a process and >> >> >> >> methodological >> >> >> ontology whereby the individual and >> the social are inseparable but >> >> does not provide a clear >> cut language of >> description of how the >> >> >> >> social >> >> >> structure shapes activity or, to put >> it in Seeger's terms, how power >> >> shapes discourse (and >> consciousness and identy). >> >> Best >> >> Arturo >> >> >> On 10 November 2011 23:41, >> Andy Blunden >> <ablunden@mira.net >> <mailto:ablunden@mira.net>> >> >> wrote: >> >> >> >> >> The current edition of >> Theory & Psychology >> looks very special. I >> >> >> >> admit I >> >> >> have at this stage only actually >> read the article by Mike Cole, >> >> >> Robert >> >> >> Lecusay and Deborah Downing-Wilson, >> but it is a special issue on >> >> >> CHAT >> >> >> and >> >> interventionist >> methodology, with >> articles by a number >> of people >> >> >> >> from >> >> >> Yrjo >> >> Engestrom's CRADLE and >> also Falk Seeger, who >> is guest editing the >> Special >> Issue of MCA on Emotions. >> >> Mike's article >> elaborates on what the >> participants call a >> "mutual >> appropriation" >> approach to developing >> theory and practice. >> >> Instead >> >> >> of >> >> >> implementing a project design and then >> modifying it in the light of >> >> >> the >> >> >> reseacher's experience, the >> researchers go in to a local community >> >> >> with >> >> >> very >> >> open ended ideas about >> how and what they want >> to achieve, and >> engage >> with >> their community >> partner, learn about >> their (the partner's) >> >> project, >> >> offer >> assistance and >> resources and share >> knowledge and >> objectives and >> .... >> mutually appropriate. >> The article describes >> the results of a >> >> >> >> specific >> >> >> project which is an exemplar of >> "mutual appropriation" which has >> >> >> grown >> >> >> out >> >> of the 5thD >> after-school programs >> which LCHC began in >> the 1980s. >> >> The article is >> actually very moving. >> I personally think >> that this >> >> >> >> kind >> >> >> of >> >> work is tackling the >> main problem in front >> of us >> cultural-historical >> cultural psychology >> people today. If you >> don't subscribe to >> >> Theory >> >> & >> Psychology, I don't >> know how you can get >> to read the paper. Maybe >> someone >> has a solution there. >> But it is a must read. >> I will read the >> >> >> >> remaining >> >> >> articles in the special issue, but >> this is a real high. >> >> Andy >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------******-------------------------- >> **--**--**------------ >> >> >> >> *Andy Blunden* >> >> Joint Editor MCA: >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/******toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/****toc/hmca20/18/1> >> >> <http://www.tandfonline.com/****toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1> >> > >> >> < >> >> >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/*** >> *toc/hmca20/18/1 <http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1>< >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1> >> > >> >> >> Home Page: >> http://home.mira.net/~andy/ >> <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/**> >> >> Book: >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.******aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> < >> http://www.brill.nl/default.******aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >< >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >> >> >> < >> >> >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.** >> **aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.* >> ***aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >< >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >> >> >> >> ______________________________** >> ****____________ >> >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu >> <mailto: >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/******listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/****listinfo/xmca> >> < >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/****listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> < >> >> >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/** >> **listinfo/xmca <http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca>< >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> ------------------------------** >> ****--------------------------**--**--** >> ------------ >> *Andy Blunden* >> Joint Editor MCA: >> http://www.tandfonline.com/***** >> *toc/hmca20/18/1 <http://www.tandfonline.com/****toc/hmca20/18/1>< >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/****toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1> >> > >> >> < >> >> >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/**** >> toc/hmca20/18/1 <http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1>< >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1> >> > >> >> >> Home Page: >> http://home.mira.net/~andy/ >> <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/**> >> Book: >> http://www.brill.nl/default.**** >> **aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.*** >> ***aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >< >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >> >> >> < >> >> >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.**** >> aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.*** >> *aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >< >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >> >> >> > >> >> >> >> ______________________________** >> **____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu >> <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**** >> listinfo/xmca <http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca>< >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> >> >> >> ______________________________** >> **____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu >> <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**** >> listinfo/xmca <http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca>< >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> >> >> ______________________________****____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu >> <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/****listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca> >> < >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> >> >> ______________________________****____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/****listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca> >> < >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> ------------------------------** >> **----------------------------**--** >> ------------ >> *Andy Blunden* >> Joint Editor MCA: >> http://www.tandfonline.com/****toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1> >> < >> >> http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1> >> > >> >> Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/ >> <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/**> >> Book: >> http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.****aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >< >> >> http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> >> >> >> ______________________________****____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/****listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca> >> < >> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> > >> ______________________________**____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- ------------------------------**------------------------------* >> *------------ >> *Andy Blunden* >> Joint Editor MCA: http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1> >> Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/ <http://home.mira.net/%7Eandy/* >> *> >> Book: http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> <http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> >> > >> >> ______________________________**____________ >> _____ >> xmca mailing list >> xmca@weber.ucsd.edu <mailto:xmca@weber.ucsd.edu> >> http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Gregory A. Thompson, Ph.D. >> Sanford I. Berman Post-Doctoral Scholar >> Department of Communication >> University of California, San Diego >> >> > -- > ------------------------------**------------------------------** > ------------ > *Andy Blunden* > Joint Editor MCA: http://www.tandfonline.com/**toc/hmca20/18/1<http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/hmca20/18/1> > Home Page: http://home.mira.net/~andy/ > Book: http://www.brill.nl/default.**aspx?partid=227&pid=34857<http://www.brill.nl/default.aspx?partid=227&pid=34857> > > ______________________________**____________ > _____ > xmca mailing list > xmca@weber.ucsd.edu > http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/**listinfo/xmca<http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca> > -- Gregory A. Thompson, Ph.D. Sanford I. Berman Post-Doctoral Scholar Department of Communication University of California, San Diego __________________________________________ _____ xmca mailing list xmca@weber.ucsd.edu http://dss.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/xmca