Following on from Saturday’s Live Sociology Workshop back at Goldsmiths University, London, I’ve just downloaded Audacity from Sourceforge.  This is free sound editing tool, useful if you’re interested in podcasting, publishing in hypertext or simply editing down your audio data into more managable forms.

The session as a whole was focused on internet publishing and the affordances of multimedia.  Prof Les Back gave the group a preview of a site he has been working on: The Academic Diary – particularly examining the trade off between book and website, with some interesting reflections on attempting to retain the visceral and  physical qualities of the book. 

Of course, publishing works both ways, and another tier to this cross-pollination for consideration comes in the form of Blurb. Blurb is a print-on-demand online service that allows anyone to publish their own books.  At the workshop we got to see some examples of short print runs that Goldsmiths students had published of their own work (complete with ISBNs) – which got me excited about the prospect of publishing my thesis, or support documents in some new and interesting form.  I’ll be checking on the Rules of Submission and getting back to you…

On Saturday I went to the second Live Sociology workshop – this time at the University of Manchester.  In the afternoon session, Caroline Knowles (Professor of Sociology at Goldsmiths, London) and Douglas Harper (Professor of Sociology at Duquesne, University Pittsburgh) previewed their forthcoming book Hong Kong: Migrants Lives and Landscapes (Chicago University Press), a collection of photos and interviews examining the intersections between British and South East Asian migrants in the urban landscape of contemporary Hong Kong.  The book’s publication date is some way off (hence no links here), however hearing their thoughts on the collaboration, combining images and words, and the extent of the sociological process in editorial and production management was fascinating.  In particular, it was the logistical nuts and bolts of the project which proved were particularly interesting. This, along with the contrary visual and literal perspectives of Harper and Knowles made the back-stage presentation so illuminating.

The book also immediately put me in mind of City of Darkness – Life in Kowloon Walled City, a book which uncovers Hong Kong interiors (now vanished).  For City of Darkness authors Ian Girard and Greg Lambot spent four years exploring the notorious Walled City of
Kowloon (in Hong Kong). This city was a tiny Chinese enclave within British Hong Kong for decades before its clearance and demolition in 1992.  With over 320
photographs, 32 extended interviews, and essays on the City’s history and
character, this book is not only an informative glimpse of a now vanished
landmark but a sensitive and penetrating portrait of a unique community.  Knowles and Harper have not had the same time for their collaboration, however, they identify an intersection of two distinct cultures and communities similarily located in a distinct time and place.

After two years of trying, I’ve managed to enlist on the final year of Goldsmiths‘ LiveSociology course. This is an ESRC sponsored series of 5 day workshops focusing on the applied practise of social research with New Media.  Since my data collection is imminent, this is of particular relevance to me at this very moment!

The first session begins next weekend (7th/8th March 2008).  Prof Les Back (Sociology, Goldsmiths) and Paul Halliday (a filmmaker, digital artist and Convenor of Goldsmiths’ MA Photography and Urban Cultures programme) will lead the first workshop – covering the outline the structure and aims of the course and then leading into areas such as locating the context of online methods in qualitative social research and introduce the project-based nature of the course.

Although I’ve completed an MA in Research Methods, coverage of data collection focused heavily on traditional foundation methods. Since then I’ve used screen and voice capture, video and photography as modes of data collection, but I’m looking to learn more to achieve a more flexible approach to interview situations in particular. The course cites several aims, including gaining a better understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of sociological representation, exploring how representation informs epistemology and understanding the opportunities that new media offer for participatory research amongst others.  I’ll report back on my transformation accordingly!