So the last time I wrote here, I expressed my frustration and lack of self-confidence in writing postgraduate research.
Sufficed to say, my work so far is apparently okay, but I really need a thorough deconstruction of what intimacy is, so that when I go through the literature, I can clearly show why I have a case for claiming to have potentially uncovered a new form of intimacy.
Other than that, not much has changed, though the majority of my literature review is completed to a degree that I can now focus on the methodology of my thesis. I've been given a figurative mountain of literature by one of my supervisors (thank you, you know who you are) on qualitative methods and Goffman / Presentation of Self. I don't know anything about Goffman to any great extent, having somehow avoided him in my undergraduate years.
That aside, I'm hoping it will allow me to explain why I need to talk to the people I want to talk to in the way I want to. As the space in which my research precludes an open, visible analysis (ie the way intimacy is carried out is privately, behind the screen if you will), Goffman and Symbolic Interactionalism will hopefully give me a framework for interpreting and understanding how all of this online intimacy stuff goes down.
I can't really say too much else at this stage, as I haven't even begun. But I was obligated to post something this week, and I suppose this will have to do.
Here's an amusing picture of a cat that was recently posted on imgur to distract you from the brevity of this posting.
Sufficed to say, my work so far is apparently okay, but I really need a thorough deconstruction of what intimacy is, so that when I go through the literature, I can clearly show why I have a case for claiming to have potentially uncovered a new form of intimacy.
Other than that, not much has changed, though the majority of my literature review is completed to a degree that I can now focus on the methodology of my thesis. I've been given a figurative mountain of literature by one of my supervisors (thank you, you know who you are) on qualitative methods and Goffman / Presentation of Self. I don't know anything about Goffman to any great extent, having somehow avoided him in my undergraduate years.
That aside, I'm hoping it will allow me to explain why I need to talk to the people I want to talk to in the way I want to. As the space in which my research precludes an open, visible analysis (ie the way intimacy is carried out is privately, behind the screen if you will), Goffman and Symbolic Interactionalism will hopefully give me a framework for interpreting and understanding how all of this online intimacy stuff goes down.
I can't really say too much else at this stage, as I haven't even begun. But I was obligated to post something this week, and I suppose this will have to do.
Here's an amusing picture of a cat that was recently posted on imgur to distract you from the brevity of this posting.
Hahaha I love the amusing cats. As I mentioned I have a book for you. It's Consuming Life by Zygmunt Bauman. He is writing about how the consumer society obligates individuals not only to consume, but to make themselves into products to be consumed. He discusses this concept using young people and facebook. I thought it might be interesting in the context of that tumblr blog. But perhaps there is lots of other similar stuff you have already seen...
ReplyDeleteHi Matt,
ReplyDeleteI could have posted a comment to a few of your posts, as I have had similar thoughts, the one regarding not being sure if your cut out for post grad studies or the post regarding writers block. However now you have posted regarding Goffman how could I not reply?
It is a shame that you missed out on the subject - Everyday Interaction - in your undergrad degree. I have to say it was the first time during my degree where I could see how individuals shape society or create their social world. Up until then when looking at macro structures and how they shaped the individual I kept trying to work out how a concept such as society shaped an individual.
I can suggest a really great book ‘Goffman Unbound: a new paradigm for Social Science’ by Scheff. I think you will find it useful.
Lena
Hi Sara,
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading it. Actually, I lie, I am one of the (would-be) few sociologists in the world that does not enjoy Bauman, if only for his cryptic verbosity. But I will appreciate the book and try to understand it nonetheless. There's lots of stuff I've read already on "Self-Branding", which is loosely tied in with Goffman's presentation of self stuff.
Hi Lena,
I was enrolled briefly in EI but pulled out to do a 3rd year sociology class that one of my supervisors insisted was, as he put it, "Pre-Honours". I wouldn't have had the chance to do it any other time, so it was an unfortunate necessity.
I'll give the book you recommended a look-through soon! It was nice seeing you in class yesterday, I feel like I haven't spent enough time getting to know you, and I feel like that must be rectified.
Matt