Re: [xmca] Qualitative Research

[Helena Worthen <helenaworthen@gmail.com>]

Martin -- speaking of the commodification of academic life --

I looked at your flyer (very nice; I'll ask our library to get it, if they
haven't already) and saw that you're at Duquesne. It turns out there's a
conference this very weekend called "Confronting Contingency" sponsored by
the adjunct faculty association at Duquesne.

It's held in conjunction with the Steel Workers (USW) union, which is
representing the adjunct faculty. They're trying to get recognition and
bargain a contract.


Loss of full-time jobs being an aspect of the commodification.

Helena 





On 4/2/13 1:43 PM, "Martin Packer" <packer@duq.edu> wrote:

>Given that the commoditization of academic life requires constant
>self-promotion, not as a project one commits oneself to but as a
>necessary aspect of self-reproduction, I am acceding to the requests of
>the publisher of my recent book, which just received an 'honorable
>mention' (much better than its negation, a dishonorable silence) in the
>2013 Outstanding Qualitative Book Award by the International Congress of
>Qualitative Inquiry, by distributing the attached flier:  30% discount!
>
>Martin
>
>
>
>On Apr 2, 2013, at 3:01 PM, Martin Packer <packer@duq.edu> wrote:
>
>> Michael,
>>
>> Thanks,  but I am looking for the way that Andy has defined "project"
>>as the fundamental unit of analysis of human activity.
>>
>> Martin
>>
>> On Apr 2, 2013, at 11:33 AM, "Glassman, Michael" <glassman.13@osu.edu>
>>wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Martin,
>>>
>>> How about this,
>>>
>>> To project (the verb),
>>>
>>> The ability to extend human activity into a larger human arena where
>>>it can be joined or experienced by more minds.
>>>
>>> When I speak louder I project my voice so more can hear and consider
>>>what I say.
>>>
>>> When I write on the Internet I project the workings of my mind so more
>>>can consider what I am thinking.
>>>
>>> When I use a can I project out my own senses so I can have a better
>>>understanding of the world around me, gaining new perspectives of
>>>nature.
>>>
>>> Project (the noun)
>>>
>>> To engage in an aim directed activity that has some intrinsic good
>>>(circa Dewey 1916)  that involves multiple minds/perspectives of
>>>nature.  The project is realized when the aim is achieved, but then it
>>>is possible to "project" you achieved aim outwards.
>>>
>>> Michael
>>> ________________________________________
>>> From: xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu [xmca-bounces@weber.ucsd.edu] on
>>>behalf of Martin Packer [packer@duq.edu]
>>> Sent: Tuesday, April 02, 2013 12:22 PM
>>> To: eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity
>>> Subject: Re: [xmca] Polls are closed: Manfred Holodynsk's article is
>>>choice
>>>
>>> No one can provide me with the definition of "project"?
>>>
>>> Brecht, let me return to the material you copied from your doctoral
>>>thesis. Let's take the opening sentences:
>>>
>>> On Apr 1, 2013, at 2:47 AM, Brecht De Smet <Brechttie.DeSmet@UGent.be>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>> "The historical process of capital accumulation and proletarianization
>>>> on a world scale has created forms of wage labor and exploitation that
>>>> constructed the modern working class as a passive Object of history.
>>>> Persons who can freely dispose of their labor power, but who do not
>>>> possess their own (sufficient) means of production are forced into the
>>>> activity-system of modern wage labor.[1][1] Their activity of wage
>>>>labor
>>>> is born out of necessity, and oriented towards the goal of reproducing
>>>> their natural and social life.
>>>
>>> What we find here is your explication of a "historical process" that
>>>has constructed (I'd say 'constituted,' but let that pass), a class of
>>>persons. Not simply a crowd (I recall your previous critique!), but a
>>>class, which I presume you would agree is not simply an aggregate of
>>>individuals. As a result, you suggest, the actions of individuals who
>>>find themselves to be members of that class (I presume they didn't
>>>choose to be working class?) are constrained - people are "forced" to
>>>sell their capabilities in order to obtain a wage in order to eat in
>>>order to live. Their goal - "reproducing their natural and social life"
>>>- is not intrinsic to their activity - "wage labor" - because, as you
>>>say, the goal exists prior to the activity, and to a great degree the
>>>activity undercuts the goal - for many it's hard to eat and live under
>>>the conditions of exploited labor.
>>>
>>> All of this is, IMHO, a great analysis! You take into account the
>>>social world in which people act, and how it constrains their activity,
>>>you take into account the history of this world, you take into account
>>>the necessity of reproduction. I just don't see that any of this is
>>>built on "project" as a unit of analysis!
>>>
>>> But probably I'm confused...
>>>
>>> Martin
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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