CFP AAG 2015, Chicago, IL, April 21-25
Articulating discourse analysis in geography: method, practice and process
Organizers: Chad Steacy, Dept. of Geography, University of Georgia
Christian Pettersen, Dept. of Geography, University of Georgia
Discourse analysis has achieved mainstream acceptance in geographic research (Waitt 2010). Over the past two decades, it has proved itself a powerful and versatile research tool, informing a diverse body of study, from Tim Cresswell’s (1992) early reevaluation of urban graffiti narratives to Steven Pile’s (2005) psychoanalytically-informed exhibition of urban fantasy ‘dream-work’. Beyond a mere variety of subject matter, discourse analysis has additionally informed work spanning wide theoretical breadth, from realist-oriented ideology critique (i.e. Linnros & Hallin 2001) to the radical (de)constructionism of post-structural genealogy (as performed by Cooke & Jenkins 2001).
But despite its popularity and adaptability, discourse analysis is too often left underexplored, under-theorized as method and under-elaborated as practice (Antaki, C. et al. 2003; Lees 2004). It is quite common for articles using discourse analysis as their primary methodology to leave their ‘findings’ to speak for themselves, as though the mechanics of analysis and the theoretical challenges that arise are extraneous to – or in any case implicitly expressed within – the research results.
This session endeavors to open the ‘black box’ and articulate discourse analysis by way of case-study or through direct theoretical consideration of discourse analysis as method, practice, and/or process. Distinctively qualitative perspectives are preferred.
Please send statements of interest or titles and abstracts to Chad Steacy at steacy@uga.edu and/or Christian Pettersen at cpetters@uga.edu by November 1.