Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 12:34:47 -0700
From: Judy <jaw-AT-earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: methodology and the differend


For me, the idea of the differend and lots of related stuff in Lyotard's
book, Le Differend, suggest ways of analyzing conflicts that are very eye
opening. The idea that politics is not a genre or genre of genres but is
the state of genres of discourse, is a particularly good starting place for
me. That there are differends can be presupposed. The question isn't "how
do we eliminate or resolve a differend," because if it's resolved then by
definition it isn't a differend, and in Lyotard, there is much to suggest a
way of looking at any resolution as a pseudo- or temporary resolution at
best (impossibility of genuine or sustained resolution increasing in direct
proportion to heterogeneity). For me, it's more about what is going on
behind the scenes of any given conflict resolution, what is hidden, what
potential linkages are silenced by a particular linkage of phrases. Silence
is a phrase. What does the linkage of silence to a phrase universe say?
For starters.

If you would like, Chris, you could say some more about the interaction of
the EBD students and teachers you are interested in, and your initial ideas
about how to discuss them in terms of the concept of the differend. What
kind of itneractions do you want to analyze?  Maybe some people would want
to discuss them here.
Judy


>Does the differend have a "methodology"? I am not sure it does. It certainly
>has a definition, and maybe you can prepare your own study by identifying
>differends in the educational setting with your identified population. May
>be Lois Sawyer can help you a bit on any application of Lyotard's ideas as
>psychology, if she is willing.
>
>My guess is that there is little to no research in the educational setting
>with the population you are suggesting for your research. It certainly would
>be an interesting topic of research to pursue.
>
>----------
>>From: q4702564-AT-topaz.cqu.edu.au
>>To: lyotard-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu
>>Subject: methodology and the differend
>>Date: Wed, Sep 29, 1999, 12:42 AM
>>
>
>> Hi all
>>
>> I am a EdD student in Australia. I am researching the application of the
>> differend to the interaction between EBD students and teachers. Does anyone
>> know of any research studies using the differend? My supervisor is
>> requesting that I firm up my methodology but I don't seem to be able to
>> locate any studies that have specifically used the methodology of the
>differend.
>>
>> Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>> Cheers
>> Chris Summers
>>