Hi! Firstly, thanks everyone who has responded either on
the list or privately to my initial comments about 'Using Foucault',
it has been really interesting reading. I have a few 'follow up
thoughts' which I shall try to put down below.
Yes, I agree (Tom), any application of a theory involves an
interpretation. Indeed, perhaps the reason that most of the
discussion on the list is about interpretating Foucault is that it is
our struggle to interpret Foucault which we hold in common whether
we are 'interpretors' only or 'appliers' as well (ouch!). I guess
what motivated me to comment on the list in the first place was that
I felt intimidated by all this apparently exclusive interpretation
- I'm glad that this discussion seems to have established that there
are others on the list who are also applying Foucault.
Although I agree (Blaine) that it is interesting to know the contexts to
which others are applying Foucault, I would also be interested to
know what parts of his work they are using, and what problems they
encounter in the process. Indeed, I doubt the fact that I am
looking at British local environmental policy is of that much
interest to most people on the list, however, that I am looking at it
through discursive formations, that I have gone round and round in
circles trying to decide what a discourse is / asking at what
point a new discourse can be said to emerge...is probably of more
interest.
Finally, I think Robyn is absolutely right when she says it does not
matter whether we are faithful or unfaithful to Foucault. The test
for me is just whether or not the aspects of Foucault's approach
which I am mimicing (/using/applying) enlighten my understanding of
my subject.
Cheers,
Liz
the list or privately to my initial comments about 'Using Foucault',
it has been really interesting reading. I have a few 'follow up
thoughts' which I shall try to put down below.
Yes, I agree (Tom), any application of a theory involves an
interpretation. Indeed, perhaps the reason that most of the
discussion on the list is about interpretating Foucault is that it is
our struggle to interpret Foucault which we hold in common whether
we are 'interpretors' only or 'appliers' as well (ouch!). I guess
what motivated me to comment on the list in the first place was that
I felt intimidated by all this apparently exclusive interpretation
- I'm glad that this discussion seems to have established that there
are others on the list who are also applying Foucault.
Although I agree (Blaine) that it is interesting to know the contexts to
which others are applying Foucault, I would also be interested to
know what parts of his work they are using, and what problems they
encounter in the process. Indeed, I doubt the fact that I am
looking at British local environmental policy is of that much
interest to most people on the list, however, that I am looking at it
through discursive formations, that I have gone round and round in
circles trying to decide what a discourse is / asking at what
point a new discourse can be said to emerge...is probably of more
interest.
Finally, I think Robyn is absolutely right when she says it does not
matter whether we are faithful or unfaithful to Foucault. The test
for me is just whether or not the aspects of Foucault's approach
which I am mimicing (/using/applying) enlighten my understanding of
my subject.
Cheers,
Liz