From: "E.Sharp" <E.Sharp-AT-sheffield.ac.uk>
Date: Fri, 17 Jan 1997 16:13:44 +0000
Subject: 'Using Foucault' revisted


Hi!   Firstly, thanks everyone who has responded either on 
the list or privately to my initial comments about 'Using Foucault', 
it has been really interesting reading.  I  have a few 'follow up 
thoughts' which I shall try to put down below.

Yes, I agree (Tom), any application of a theory involves an 
interpretation.  Indeed, perhaps the reason that most of the 
discussion on the list is about interpretating Foucault is that it is 
our struggle to interpret Foucault which we hold in common whether 
we are 'interpretors' only or 'appliers' as well (ouch!).  I guess 
what motivated me to comment on the list in the first place was that 
I felt intimidated by all this apparently exclusive interpretation 
- I'm glad that this discussion seems to have established that there 
are others on the list who are also applying Foucault. 

Although I agree (Blaine) that it is interesting to know the contexts to 
which others are applying Foucault, I would also be interested to 
know what parts of his work they are using, and what problems they 
encounter in the process.  Indeed, I doubt the fact that I am 
looking at British local environmental policy is of that much 
interest to most people on the list, however, that I am looking at it 
through discursive formations, that I have gone round and round in 
circles trying to decide what a discourse is / asking at what 
point a new discourse can be said to emerge...is probably of more 
interest.  

Finally, I think Robyn is absolutely right when she says it does not 
matter whether we are faithful or unfaithful to Foucault.  The test 
for me is just whether or not the aspects of Foucault's approach 
which I am mimicing (/using/applying) enlighten my understanding of 
my subject.   

Cheers, 

Liz