“Becoming-Posthuman”: A Turn Toward a Posthuman Performative Methodology in Early Childhood

• In Event: Rethinking Research in Early Childhood

Abstract

Drawing from a posthuman study about relational ethics in early childhood education, this paper explores how a posthuman performative methodology was created and put to work. In order to do this, we argue that it is necessary to turn away from deconstructive research methods, and instead create and work with a posthuman performative methodology. This methodology is open-ended, experimental, and affective and used to reconstruct the social imaginary about what it means to ‘do’ ethics and be an early childhood teacher. Finally, 'becoming-posthuman’ is suggested as a possibility whereby we redefine the role of researcher. It is through this process we describe how methods shift in response to the attachments and connections we have to a shared world.

Authors

• Mindy Blaise, The Hong Kong Institute of Education

• Jane Elizabeth Bone, Monash University