[Air-L] Using ANT as ethos and method

[Tamara Paradis]

Hi all

I'm working on a graduate project that explores the controversies and
understandings of MMO gaming as valid leisure. I'm curious what is it about
MMO gaming that results in it being viewed as geeky, strange, "luser-ish",
etc. I've been struck by the ways in which MMO gamers themselves, as well as
everday non-gaming folks and mass media reportage (outside of financial
reports!) seem to accept that MMO gaming is somehow a type of strange and
suspect pursuit.

I've long been intrigued with the work of Bruno Latour and others from SST
and material culture studies who use an Actor-Network Theory (ANT) approach
to studying the world and its phenomenon. I am drawn to the ethos of ANT
which flattens the divide between researcher and the researched, and which
advocates jettisoning old notions of society and "the social", and the old
(artificial?) divides between micro/macro, structure/individual,
power/domination etc. in the interests of letting the actions tell the story
of the results. I'm equlally drawn but intimidated by the methods built into
ANT -- the mapping of actors and connections and associations.

I'm trying to convince a reluctant adviser that an ANT approach is a valid
way of studying my research question. Given the digital focus and the desire
to use ANT as ethos and method, as well as the ways in which ANT approaches
study and fieldwork, I'm having a rough go of it.  I'm wondering if any of
you are using ANT or have used it in the past for qualitiative research
purposes (e.g. virtual ethnography; findings reporting; etc.). If you have
done so in the past, are in the midst of doing so now or are at least
intrigued by the possibilities, I'd be interested in talking with you
off-list.

Thanks.

Tamara Paradis
tparadis at connect.carleton.ca
tsparadis at gmail.com
Carleton University - Sociology & Anthropology
Ottawa, ON, Canada