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Silhouettes analysis

A Posthuman Method for Visualizing and Examining the Material World

Bibliographic Data

ID2404219
AuthorsGrit Höppner (0000-0001-9897-445X, Catholic University of Applied Sciences, Münster, Germany, corresponding author)
Year2022
Volume22
Issue4
Pages578-593
Publication date2022-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1468-7941 • E-ISSN: 1741-3109
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1468794121999015
OpenAlexW3155500459
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited27

In recent decades, postmodern, poststructuralist, and social constructivist theories, and the methodologies and methods they have informed, have been criticized for focusing primarily on human actors, discourses, and actions. Simultaneously, so-called posthuman theories have been developed that decentralize the human, reject an unquestioned use of the dualism of human/nonhuman, and emphasize the importance of the material world in the production of the social. A key concern for current qualitative inquiry is to develop methods that contribute to the critique of human-centered analysis. In this article, I explore what we learn about the material world when we do not use verbal methods or written data but image details of moveable formations, which are made into silhouettes using Karen Barad's agential realism. After introducing posthuman methodology I perform a silhouettes analysis focusing on old age. The intention is to demonstrate that silhouettes analysis makes it possible to gain new insights into the features of materialities of old age in a way that classical image analysis would not allow. In addition, silhouettes analysis produces an alienation effect that disturbs practiced viewing habits and assumptions, and can thus serve as a research tool promoting reflection. I conclude with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of silhouettes analysis for gerontological and posthuman research

Aesthetics · Alienation · Dualism · Epistemology · Foregrounding · Posthuman · Posthumanism · Social constructivism · Social science · Sociology · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Philosophy · Posthumanist Ethics and Activism · Psychology

  • Influence of materiality in professional geriatric care

    Open Access•Hanna Wüller, R F Mazzola et al.•Journal of Aging Studies•2024

  • Distributed age(ing)

    Open Access•Grit Höppner•Journal of Aging Studies•2023

  • Carving and making space through dance – Older people using dance to experience their ageing body and challenge ageist discourse

    Open Access•Anna Goulding•Journal of Aging Studies•2024

  • Wellbeing and aging in person-home-assemblages

    Open Access•Sander Lambrix, Luise Stoisser et al.•Journal of Aging Studies•2026

  • Old’ Materialisms vs. ‘New’ Materialisms in Ageing Research

    Open Access•Julia Hahmann, Grit Höppner•KZfSS Kölner Zeitschrift für…•2025

  • Seeing Things

    Jon Wagner•The SAGE Handbook of Visual…•2011

  • Anti-Aging als Form der Lebensführung

    Open Access•Larissa Pfaller•Anti-Aging als Form der…•2016

  • Pflegedinge

    Thomas Bruns, Lucia Artner et al.•Pflegedinge•2017

  • Posthumanist Performativity

    K Barad•Signs: Journal of Women in…•2003

  • Reassembling the Social

    Bruno Latour•REASSEMBLING THE SOCIAL: AN…•2005

  • Where and How Do Aging Processes Take Place in Everyday Life? Answers From a New Materialist Perspective

    Open Access•Grit Höppner, Monika Urban•Frontiers in Sociology•2018

  • The challenge of creating ‘alternative’ images of ageing

    Open Access•Naomi Richards, Latoya Warren et al.•Journal of Aging Studies•2011

  • Visualizing risk

    Open Access•Wendy Martins, Wendy Martin•Critical Social Policy•2012

  • Dinge in Bewegung - zum Rollenwandel materieller Objekte

    Anamaria Depner•Dinge in Bewegung - Zum…•2015

  • Posthumanism as research methodology

    Jasmine Brooke Ulmer•International Journal of…•2017

  • Orientating to Assembling

    Open Access•Katrina Mcleod, Kim Mcleod•International Journal of…•2014

  • Assemblage analysis

    Open Access•Michael Feely•Qualitative Research•2020

  • Enactments of a new materialist ethnography

    Open Access•C Schadler•Qualitative Research•2019

  • Doing age

    Open Access•Anna Sofia Lundgren•Qualitative Research•2013

  • Visibilities and Visual Discourses

    Open Access•Boris Traue, Mathias Blanc et al.•Qualitative Inquiry•2019

  • Backstage With The Hot Flashes

    Open Access•Lois Ruskai Melina•Qualitative Inquiry•2008

  • Embodying of the self during interviews

    Open Access•Grit Höppner•Current Sociology•2017

  • Key practices of the transition to parenthood

    Open Access•C Schadler•Current Sociology•2014

Unique citing works5
Citations per year1,67
Citation span2023 - 2026 (4)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 5
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