32 Days Remaining

Live Sociology 2: Thinking Visually

On Saturday I went to the second Live Sociology workshop - this time at the University of Manchester.  In the afternoon session, Caroline Knowles (Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths, London) and Douglas Harper (Professor of Sociology at Duquesne, University Pittsburgh) previewed their forthcoming book Hong Kong: Migrants Lives and Landscapes (Chicago University Press), a collection of photos and interviews examining the intersections between British and South East Asian migrants in the urban landscape of contemporary Hong Kong.  The book's publication date is some way off (hence no links here), however hearing their thoughts on the collaboration, combining images and words, and the extent of the sociological process in editorial and production management was fascinating.  In particular, it was the logistical nuts and bolts of the project which proved were particularly interesting. This, along with the contrary visual and literal perspectives of Harper and Knowles made the back-stage presentation so illuminating.

The book also immediately put me in mind of City of Darkness - Life in Kowloon Walled City, a book which uncovers Hong Kong interiors (now vanished).  For City of Darkness authors Ian Girard and Greg Lambot spent four years exploring the notorious Walled City of Kowloon (in Hong Kong). This city was a tiny Chinese enclave within British Hong Kong for decades before its clearance and demolition in 1992.  With over 320 photographs, 32 extended interviews, and essays on the City's history and character, this book is not only an informative glimpse of a now vanished landmark but a sensitive and penetrating portrait of a unique community.  Knowles and Harper have not had the same time for their collaboration, however, they identify an intersection of two distinct cultures and communities similarily located in a distinct time and place.

Graduate School Careers Event

The University of Nottingham's Graduate School publicity machine is lurching into action regarding forthcoming careers events.  As previously noted here, I'll be presenting: 'Going Solo - Starting out as a Freelance Researcher' on Thursday 15th of May.  For more details you can view the event flyer here: Graduate School Career Events.  If you are a University of Nottingham post graduate student you can now register to attend via the Graduate School's web pages at: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/gradschool/solo.

Social Tagging

My good friend The Wired Jester has posted an article considering a couple of interesting examples of social tagging on Flickr and Last.FM (MySpace 2.0?).  Tagging has never been my strong suit, but if you're looking for creative responses to the Social Web, this is a great short piece.  Click on this link to read Web 2.0 Vandalism.

e-Social Science

I'm pleased to announce that my submission to the 4th International Conference on e-Social Science has been accepted for presentation as a short paper.  In line with the concerns of the conference, this paper will focus on the new-media methods I'm using for my PhD, these include screen and audio capture during local and remote interviews as well as emergent results.  I've already had positive and constructive comments from reviewers which have been really helpful.  Hopefully the conference itself will play out in the same vein. 

For those of you interested in this area the Conference will be held at the University of Manchester, UK, from 18 - 20 June 2008.  I'm looking forward to visiting some of the sites from my youth - and in a new context!  The website states that 'a wine reception will be held on the first evening in the Power Hall at the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry'. I haven't been to the Power Hall since I was 12!  Should delegates really be allowed alcohol with all that machinery around?