Net:Geography Fieldwork Frequently Asked Questions

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Code, space and everyday life

In this paper we examine the role of code (software) in the spatial formation of collective life. Taking the view that human life and coded technology are folded into one another, we theorise space as ontogenesis. Space, we posit, is constantly being bought into being through a process of transduction – the constant making anew of a domain in reiterative and transformative practices - as an incomplete solution to a relational problem. The relational problem we examine is the ongoing encounter between individuals and environment where the solution, to a greater or lesser extent, is code. Code, we posit, is diversely embedded in collectives as coded objects, coded infrastructure, coded processes and coded assemblages. These objects, infrastructure, processes and assemblages possess technicity, that is, unfolding or evolutive power to make things happen; the ability to mediate, supplement, augment, monitor, regulate, operate, facilitate, produce collective life. We contend that when the technicity of code is operationalised it transduces one of three forms of hybrid spatial formations: code/space, coded space and backgrounded coded space. These formations are contingent, relational, extensible and scaleless, often stretched out across networks of greater or shorter length. We demonstrate the coded transduction of space through three vignettes – each a day in the life of three people living in London, UK, tracing the technical mediation of their interactions, transactions and mobilities. We then discuss how code becomes the relational solution to five different classes of problems – domestic living, travelling, working, communicating, and consuming

Cuestionando y desestabilizando la hegemonía angloamericana y del inglés en geografía

Este artículo analiza el estatus hegemónico de la geografía angloamericana y el papel del idioma inglés como lingua franca del mundo académico. La primera mitad del artículo esboza brevemente el estatus hegemónico de la geografía angloamericana, las estructuras y prácticas de la economía global del conocimiento y de la misma geografía angloamericana que ayudan a mantener y reproducir su hegemonía, así como los efectos cohibidores de esta hegemonía en la geografía practicada en cualquier otra parte del mundo. La segunda mitad examina cómo las normas angloamericanas y la hegemonía del inglés como lingua franca mundial ya están siendo, y todavía pueden serlo más, desafiadas, resistidas, subvertidas y remodeladas a través de intervenciones discursivas y prácticas que persiguen este objetivo transformador y desestabilizador. Centrándose en cómo se ha ido construyendo la historia de esta disciplina y cuáles son los protocolos de publicación y organización de congresos, se estudia cómo se podría abrir la geografía a una mayor pluralidad de voces (no angloamericanas), a formas diferentes de «hacer» geografía y a métodos alternativos de evaluar el quehacer en geografía.Aquest article analitza l'estatus hegemònic de la geografia angloamericana i el paper de l'idioma anglès com a lingua franca del món acadèmic. La primera meitat de l'article apunta de forma breu l'estatus hegemònic de la geografia angloamericana, les estructures i les pràctiques de l'economia global del coneixement i de la mateixa geografia angloamericana que ajuden a mantenir i a reproduir la seva hegemonia, així com els efectes condicionants d'aquesta hegemonia en la geografia practicada arreu del món. La segona meitat examina com les normes angloamericanes i l'hegemonia de l'anglès com a lingua franca mundial ja han començat a ser (però encara ho poden ser més) reptades, resistides, subvertides i remodelades a través d'intervencions discursives i pràctiques que persegueixen aquest objectiu transformador i desestabilitzador. Centrant-se en com s'ha anat constrint la història d'aquesta disciplina i en quins són els protocols de publicació i d'organització de congressos, s'estudia com es podria obrir la geografia a una pluralitat més àmplia de veus (no angloamericanes), a formes diferents de «fer» geografia i a mètodes alternatius d'avaluar la tasca de la geografia.Cet article analyse le statut hégémonique de la géographie anglo-américaine et le rôle de la langue anglaise comme lingua franca dans le monde académique. La première moitié de l'article esquisse brièvement le statut hégémonique de la géographie anglo-américaine, les structures et les pratiques de l'économie globale de la connaissance et de la géographie anglo-américaine elle-même qui aident à maintenir et à reproduire son hégémonie ainsi que les effets influençant la géographie pratiquée dans le reste du monde. La seconde partie examine de quelle manière les normes anglo-américaines et l'hégémonie de l'anglais comme lingua franca mondiale commencent à être (et elles peuvent encore l'être davantage) défiées, repoussées, subverties et demodelées au moyen d'interventions discursives et pratiques que poursuit cet objectif transformateur et déstabilisateur. Se centrant sur la manière dont l'histoire de cette discipline s'est peu à peu construite et quels en sont les protocoles de publication et d'organisation des congrès, on y étudie comment on pourrait ouvrir la géographie à une plus grande pluralité de voix (non anglo-américaines), à des formes différentes de «faire» de la géographie et à des méthodes alternatives d'évaluer la tâche de la géographie.This paper considers the perceived hegemonic status of Anglo-American geography and the role of the English-language as the lingua franca of academia. The first half of the paper outlines in brief the hegemonic status of Anglo-American geography, the structures and practices of the global knowledge economy and Anglo-American geography itself that help sustain and reproduce its hegemony, and the disciplining effects of this hegemonic status on Geography practised elsewhere. The second half, examines how Anglo-American norms and the hegemonic status of English as a global lingua franca are being, and might be further, challenged, resisted, subverted and re-shaped through discursive and practical interventions aimed at disrupting and destabilising them. By focusing on how the history of the discipline is constructed, and the protocols of publishing and organising conferences, how Geography can be transformed to open it up to a plurality of (non-Anglo-American) voices, different ways of «doing» geography, and alternative ways of valuing forms of geographical enterprise, are considered

Rob Kitchin: “Big data should complement small data, not replace them.”

Over the coming weeks we will be featuring a series of interviews conducted by Mark Carrigan on the nature of ‘big data’ and the opportunities and challenges presented for scholarship with its growing influence. In this first interview, Rob Kitchin elaborates on the specific characteristics of big data, the hype and hubris surrounding its advent, and the distinction between data-driven science and empiricism

Queering Belfast: Some thoughts on the sexing of space

In this paper we use data from interviews and focus groups with gay men, lesbians and bisexuals living in Belfast to provide a queer reading of the city. Drawing on the work of queer theory, we argue, contrary to much of the literature on sexuality and space, that space is neither purely encoded as ‘heterosexual’ or ‘gay’. Instead we posit that all space is queered, that the sexing of space is always partial and contested, always in a process of becoming; that heterosexist spatiality, for example, is profoundly unstable, continuously engaged in the process of reproducing itself. Reconceptualising socio-spatial relations in this way, we contend, allows for a more nuanced and differentiated, geographical reading of sexual dissidence, one that acknowledges the fluidity and complexity of individuals’ self-identifications with regard to sexual-orientation and their diverse spatialities, as evidenced in our interviews.

The editor’s role in refereeing: a response to Johnston and Pattie

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Thinking critically about and researching algorithms. Programmable City Working Paper 5

The era of ubiquitous computing and big data is now firmly established, with more and more aspects of our everyday lives being mediated, augmented, produced and regulated by digital devices and networked systems powered by software. Software is fundamentally composed of algorithms -- sets of defined steps structured to process instructions/data to produce an output. And yet, to date, there has been little critical reflection on algorithms, nor empirical research into their nature and work. This paper synthesises and extends initial critical thinking about algorithms and considers how best to research them in practice. It makes a case for thinking about algorithms in ways that extend far beyond a technical understanding and approach. It then details four key challenges in conducting research on the specificities of algorithms -- they are often: ‘black boxed’; heterogeneous, contingent on hundreds of other algorithms, and are embedded in complex socio-technical assemblages; ontogenetic and performative; and ‘out of control’ in their work. Finally, it considers six approaches to empirically research algorithms: examining source code (both deconstructing code and producing genealogies of production); reflexively producing code; reverse engineering; interviewing designers and conducting ethnographies of coding teams; unpacking the wider socio-technical assemblages framing algorithms; and examining how algorithms do work in the world

Using Participatory Action. Research Approaches in Geographical Studies of Disability: Some Reflections

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Disrupting and destabilizing Anglo-American and English-language hegemony in geography

This commentary considers the perceived hegemonic status of Anglo-American Geography and the role of the English language as the lingua franca of academia. The first half of the paper outlines in brief the hegemonic status of Anglo-American Geography, the structures and practices of the global knowledge economy and Anglo- American Geography itself that help sustain and reproduce its hegemony, and the disciplining effects of this hegemonic status on geography practised elsewhere. The second half examines how Anglo-American norms and the hegemonic status of English as a global lingua franca are being, and might be further, challenged, resisted, subverted and re-shaped through discursive and practical interventions aimed at disrupting and destabilizing them. By focusing on how the history of the discipline is constructed, and the protocols of publishing and organizing conferences, how geography can be transformed to open it up to a plurality of (non-Anglo-American) voices, different ways of ‘doing’ geography, and alternative ways of valuing forms of geographical enterprise, are considered