Networks
Knowing Things: Materiality and the Production of Knowledge
Network Lead: Emma Martin (ICP)
Aims
This group aims to be a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative research group that reflects on the agency, affect and aura of material culture in the processes of knowledge production. The group will identify, develop and exchange theories, practices, and methodologies applicable to a wide-range of academic disciplines. Equally, the group will take a broad view on materiality and it hopes to incorporate researchers working on everything from art to anthropology, hair clips to highways, and sheet music to scientific instruments.
Planned activities
The group aims to hold an annual conference, plus a series of focused seminars and workshops. We plan to co-produce research and things with colleagues in Manchester’s cultural institutions and create a materiality-based research methods programme for doctoral students. A long-term aim is to create an OA journal that provides PhDs and ECRs with valuable publishing and editorial experience.
Membership
The group’s core membership includes researchers from across the School, Faculty, and the wider University. There is also a desire to incorporate those who think with things professionally – including colleagues from Manchester’s museums, libraries, archives, workshops, laboratories and studio spaces. The core research group includes:
- Dr Kostas Arvanitis (ICP)
- Dr Kate Dorney (Drama)
- Dr Sasha Handley (History)
- Prof Rebecca Herissone (Music)
- Dr Helen Holmes (SCI)
- Dr Raymond Lucas (Architecture)
- Dr Alice Marples (JRRI)
- Dr Emma Martin (ICP) (Knowing Things lead)
- Dr Simon Parry (Drama/ICP)
- Lewis Ryder (PhD candidate, History/ICP)
- Dr James Sumner (CHSTM)
- Dr Petra Tjitske Kalshoven (Anthropology)
- Dr Sophie Woodward (Sociology)
- Dr Edward Wouk (AHVS)