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8/7/2019 CULTURAL STUDIES RESPONSE PAPER -I
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CULTURAL STUDIES RESPONSE PAPER I
RESEARCHER SITUATEDNESS
SUBMITTED BY
ABHISHEK TYAGI
ROLL NO. 79
SECTION - B
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
The subject of cultural studies, as the name suggests, deals with the different approaches to
study culture. As it could be seen in the introductory sessions on this subject, there is an
attempt to understand the subject, its theoretical underpinnings, its contemporary relevance
and some current theoretical frameworks which constitute this subject. In the backdrop of
these introductory sessions, this paper attempts to critically reflect upon a new, contemporary
way of studying culture known as Researcher Situatedness
This paper touches upon the ideas of Donna Haraway who introduced the concept of
situated knowledges - Regardless of which approach is chosen, a researcher reflects on
their own role and understanding, as they cant exist in a neutral environment. Prior
understanding is a basis to decide meaning and patterns in their surroundings. The
researchers tries to highlight this context and shows which parameters the analysis falls
within.
In cultural studies, including feminist approaches, researchers help in contributing to the
development of socio-cultural realities through their production of knowledge about them.
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The own experiences of researchers, their roles and status, as well as their disciplinary
perspectives affect the production of knowledge, particularly in case of theory building,
methodologies, and research practices.
This concept developed during the time when feminist studies were pushing for recognition
as well as inclusion of womens perspectives and lives in research. The production of
scientific knowledge is not separate from the social and cultural contexts in which that
knowledge is produced.
Another concept that we came across in the introductory sessions for this subject has been
partial perspectives. In mainstream science/scholarship, partial perspectives are seen in
negatively since these are not objective and objectivity is always associated with neutrality.
Haraway talks about partial perspectives and the locatedness of knowledge in positive terms,
i.e., it is not in opposition to an objective, universal, impartial understanding but since they
are embodied and situated, they are responsible and accountable; and they are objective. But
Haraway also believes that no knowledge producers, and no partial knowledges, are innocent.
This again requires the continual need for critical enquiry with responsibility and
accountability.
In these sessions, it was noted that initial methods of understanding culture were fraught with
repercussions involving rearticulation of cultural differences into biological differences and
reassertion of western/colonial supremacy. In such scenario, researcher situatedness is a way
out. Baukje Prins (1997) believes that situated knowledges aid in countering asymmetrical
relations for those who are in the margins, the inappropriate/d others, and not for dominant
and mainstream sections.
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This situated context has been theorised in other areas as well Theorising organizational
change due to introduction of technological innovations, Orlikowski (1996) contrasts
situated change to planned and radical change.
In knowledge management, Schultze and Leidner (2002) show an interpretive discourse on
the dynamic and situated nature of knowledge. Lave and Wenger (1991) and Wenger
(1998) focus on learning as a situated process and the importance of situatedness of
experience in communities of practice. Even in Media studies, scholars document situated
culture in which participation is through networks of direct and interpersonal
communication (OSullivan, Dutton and Rayner 2003)
APPLICATION OF RESEARCHERS SITUATEDNESS:
Taking situated knowledges seriously offers new ways of theorizing and developing new
models of social, cultural, and economic processes. This has been demonstrated by some
scholars. For e.g. Percy Oware analyses the development models of the World Bank and the
IMF and suggests that if the development models of Western economic thinking are to work
successfully they have to be based on Situated Development to take into consideration
the knowledges and understandings of the local communities.
Mairama Hamran Bello suggests that education policy can be improved by turning directly to
local communities instead of opting for western education structures. Hamadou shows that
the revitalization of gender dependent art, buildings and traditions is possible through
knowledges from local and traditional vocations, by making them relevant for planning and
development.
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Apart from all these, it has been suggested that ancient handicraft traditions with new
initiatives could be turned into commercial tools, material, souvenirs, and events, which are
attractive for both the localites and foreign visitors.
CHALLENGES TO THE CONCEPT OF RESEARCHER SITUATEDNESS
One very major challenge that this concept faces is the dynamism of time and space and with
changing times and spaces, there comes different and diverse situated knowledges which
contest with each other.
Taking into account the situated knowledges of others is an effort to reduce power
differentials, which is obviously an enormous challenge for the future of situated knowledges,
in theory, methodology and practice.
PERSONAL VIEWPOINT:
In my own view, I consider the concept of researcher situatedness to be very important one in
studying culture. The fact that a researcher is after all, a social being and thus, has his own
views which explain the researched subject is a very valid one in the current context when
there are observations and scenarios whose interpretation is influenced by researchers
situatedness.
Going beyond the present structural framework, I believe that this approach of researcher
situatedness can actually present new dimensions to existing theoretical framework about
cultures and could probably lead to a completely new theoretical framework about certain
cultural aspects simply because this approach may try and look at that particular aspect from
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a point of view that may have been overlooked because it may have been going against the
principle of objectivity but this approach could bring it to the fore and provide a new
dimension to that aspect which till now was not considered.