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Re: AUT: cognitive mapping

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<P>I must apologize for my vague use of language, as this idea has recently been germinating.&nbsp; However, I feel that the use of the word "cognitive" has been misleading.&nbsp; In using the word&nbsp;"cognitive", I am not referring to&nbsp;topographies of the brain, nor am I referring to&nbsp;any authentic self that just has to be discovered&nbsp;and traced.&nbsp; I feel that bringing&nbsp;psychological discourse into this has been somewhat misleading.&nbsp; </P>
<P>I am&nbsp;thinking more of a combination of "Frame Analysis" in which we all draw on particular concepts to interpret our reality, organize actions etc. and Institutional Ethnography,&nbsp;our actions are mediated through particular material power relations.&nbsp; These concepts, these power relations can be mapped, connections can be made.&nbsp; Further, I think that this&nbsp;may be useful, insofar as individuals differently situated, on the margins and in the center of organizing may move towards a greater understanding of how they understand things.&nbsp; Hence, this may also be used as a pedogical tool in a Paulo&nbsp;Freire sense of the word.&nbsp; Moreover, when taken in the right direction, this whole method&nbsp;can be taken apart, through encouraging&nbsp;the criticism&nbsp;from all those involved.&nbsp; The point is not to discover some end-all and be-all archetypal activist behaviour that can be coopted by the state or the market, although I can understand how I might give that impression.&nbsp; The point&nbsp;is sort of like what Nate was saying, it's an exercise that I just thought might be useful.&nbsp; It's way of bringing out into the open some the concepts&nbsp;that we use&nbsp;rather than cutting ourselves off in minute sectarian cubbyholes.&nbsp; However, it is totally vague and needs some further thought.&nbsp; Perhaps, I can approach this in another way.</P>
<P>Thanks,</P>
<P>chris&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <BR><BR></P></DIV>
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<DIV></DIV>&gt;From: Tahir Wood <TWOOD@xxxxxxxxx>
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Reply-To: aut-op-sy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<DIV></DIV>&gt;To: aut-op-sy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Subject: Re: AUT: cognitive mapping
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 10:50:54 +0200
<DIV></DIV>&gt;
<DIV></DIV>&gt;I must say, having read the posts on this thread, that I still don't grasp the point of this. I can only agree with Ilan that this would be a kind of a gift to the ruling class. I recently saw a TV documentary on the alternative psychology movement of the sixties - some of you may also have seen it - where the main point was how the central concerns of this movement (individuality, greater personal authenticity, rebellion, etc.) were smoothly taken up by the advertising, PR and marketing industries to aim their goods at just these alienated subjects who would now express their 'true selves' through their consumer behaviour. I cannot see the benefit to the revolution of a cognitive mapping, but I can sure see how it can be used in a similar way to the above to neutralise it and control those whose cognitive patterns are being mapped.
<DIV></DIV>&gt;Tahir
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