Michael's Animacy post

Chen (2012) says, “Animacies steps out of and around disciplinary closure, particularly since my objects of concern seem to call for movement… In my view, a somewhat “feral” approach to disciplinarity naturally changes the identity of what might be the proper archives for one’s scholarship” (p. 18). While resisting the pressure to give Animacies a home, much like disability studies ambivalent relationship to a home discipline, Chen does use context to give some grounding to the objects of concern. Chen does not attempt to domesticate all the objects of concern into one disciplinary home. Instead, Chen follows each object and lets the object dictate what approach to use. For example, the discussion of queer animality makes use of historical, critical race, queer of color, and cultural studies to study animacy as it relates to visual culture (film, advertising, propaganda, etc.).

What I got from this book actually has very little to do with the content. Rather, it incited a bit of crisis/panic but also an opportunity to reflect on where I’m going from here. As I have been focusing more on my dissertation proposal, I have been questioning how I might go about approaching a discussion of methodology and methods for department requirements. I am not so sure I will be free to be as open about my methodology as many of the monographs we have read. So, I have been thinking more about the ways I can translate these discussions (those we’ve had in this class) into something that justifies me being in a Sociology department and wanting a PhD in Sociology. If I were to be completely honest about my anti-disciplinary views, it would definitely be expected to be asked, “then what are you doing in a Sociology program? Why aren’t you in American Studies or Ethnic Studies?” Yet, I chose Sociology for a reason, because there are aspects and approaches of the discipline that I find valuable and predominantly depend on in my own work. For more formal aspects of my academic program, I may have to find creative ways to satisfy my “home” department while still staying true to my convictions. I love Chen’s use of the word “feral,” but I don’t know if I will be able to use that word prior to defending my dissertation. So, while I’ve been saying how I would love to do what many of this course’s readings do, I’ve begun to think more pragmatically about how to negotiate the process of graduate school. I will have to be very strategic with my use of interdisciplinary approaches.

Question for class:

In what ways does blurring the categories between non-living things, non-human living things, and humans challenge your home department? Is there room for animacy in your discipline? How might animacy resolve some gridlocks you’ve noticed in your field or even in the analytical frameworks you might use?