Russell Hitchings: “If you’re thinking about practice as a kind of invitation to explore the world or phenomena through a range of interesting ways, I like that. I think that’s probably a good way to go. But I think that could be communicated more effectively because I think often people have a tendency to think, “Ok, am I doing it right?” when they are applying it.
I think [practice theories] make even bigger methodological demands than sometimes realized. …
So people, institutions, and consequently archives, do not tend to speak of practices. … There is one exception, and that is Monty Python with the Ministry of Silly Walks. But I think that is telling that we have ministries that deal with housing – that is about the housing stock, not necessarily about housing practices …
we really have to think perhaps harder, more creatively about sideways methodological research techniques that allow us to get closer to the actual practice.
- Frank Trentmann at the DEMAND Conference panel, April 2016 (listen to all of Frank’s remarks, starting from 26:21)
For those curious about the intersection of practice theories and digital methodologies, this upcoming event that has been brought to our attention might be of interest:
Digital methodologies and domestic energy practices workshop
19-20th October 2016, Centre for Housing Research, University of St Andrews
Continue reading “Digital methodologies and domestic energy practices workshop”
Practice Theory Methodologies 