Well, not really. I was sent a paper by Vera / Michele and Carl for
possible discussion, so we thought (Mike and I) that it would be a good
idea to make them available for reading during Winter break. This will be a
little less informal than normal, but am sure both authors would welcome
comments. There is no particular order or format - read what interests you
and we'll see what discussions might emerge. If there is interest to
revisit either paper at a later time, we could certainly do that.
http://communication.ucsd.edu/MCA/Paper/index.html
Winter 2000 / 2001 Discussion Papers
Are We Ready for a Single, Integrated Theory?, By Michele Minnis and Vera
P. John-Steine
Essay review of Perspectives on Activity Theory, Edited by Yrjö Engeström,
Reijo Miettinen, and Raija-Leena Punamäki
Agency and Culture, By Carl Ratner
This article analyzes two viewpoints concerning the relation of agency and
culture. One viewpoint construes agency as a personal trait that operates
outside of culture and is designed to liberate the individual from cultural
constraints. I explore this viewpoint in the work of several eminent
cultural psychologists. I critique it as a regression to asocial
individualism which cultural psychology was designed to correct. I propose
an alternative conception of agency as a cultural phenomenon. Espoused by
Durkheim, Marx, Boas, and Bhaskar, this conception holds that agency
depends upon cultural processes for its realization, forms culture, and has
a cultural form. Agency is the active element of culture. Being a cultural
phenomenon means that agency is a historical project which must be realized
through humanizing society.
Nate Schmolze
http://members.home.net/schmolze1/
vygotsky@home.com
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