I started revising the text in September by reading it through, marking corrections, searching for literature. Nice, calm things. In October, I have to say for my defence, I was swamped at the office, and progressed slowly. November, deadline conscious, said no to all engagements and spent all my free time hunched over my laptop. Introductory chapter first, that was still fun and interesting. Next, one of the chapters, started to feel high-strung already, and finally the conclusions on a night shift, in a state of panic. And corrections of bits and pieces of chapters here and there. (I'm not supposed to revise anything else but what the pre-examiners pointed at, but I'm glad they made both specific and broad comments so I've been quite free to do the revisions in a way wanted to make them.)
Now I'm ready to send the latest version to be checked for language. Not a nice job. My nightly sentences can be incomprehensible and easily expand over four lines. But my sister told me that according to the authors of all great theses they have been written in the nighttime - there's that touch of passionate scientist (or martyr glamour) that I can claim now as well. Good or not, that's where the final opponent has his say next February in the public defense.
]]>It's about time I gave a summary. A very short one without the jargon. The thesis is a cultural study of cameraphone photo use. I interviewed sixteen Finnish cameraphone users of 17-53 years of age and examined what they thought of cameraphones, cameraphone photos, and using them as part of their other photographic and communicative practices. I did not study what was in the photos, but approached them as data files, tracking their use.
I found that using cameraphone photos became defined as something else but domestic photography, although some conventions of domestic photography persisted. I also found that people used their photos not only on the phones but also on computers and the internet. It was not only significant which photos were shared with whom, but particular groups also gathered around particular communication applications (instead of everyone using the same, freely available channels from picture messaging to instant messaging.) However, the technical side of using photos was not unproblematic for everyone. Transferring photos brought up questions of gender related to digital domestic photography and ICT use.
Based on the results, my thesis concludes that people's digital media use should not be understood only through focusing on individual devices (as has been customary in cameraphone research, for example), but also through examining how people use their media content: how the content is made meaningful side by side to other media contents; how the files are circulated and used across devices; and what technical, social, and cultural issues facilitate or complicate the circulation and use.
Once the thesis is published (most likely autumn 2008), it will be freely available in the internet, and I'll include a full academic abstract here soon.
]]>I've been telling everyone for the past three months that I'm almost done with my thesis in order to make it reality. I suppose I am almost there, but there is still a heap of sand to shovel within a month.
Anyway, we were chatting the other day at lunch with Petri http://mlab.taik.fi/~plankosk/blog/ and Mariana http://mlab.taik.fi/people/showperson?pid=742&g=doctoral
about our blogs and I said I never really knew what I should or could write about. As you've noticed. Sorry. But I got inspired enough by the discussion that I now think there may be a brighter future ahead after the thesis work, which this blog has tried to keep track of, eases up. I've been thinking of starting to follow discussions as well as my own thoughs on the topic "international" or "becoming international" or "making" something international. Or maybe I'll pick an area in visual culture. Or start a cooking blog. As you can see, I'm getting pretty excited about submitting the manuscript (way prematurely) and there's no knowing of where my energies and attention will turn after. Who knows, maybe I'll just eat and enjoy and travel and meet people and keep away from the keyboard.
The first full draft is there - what a relief. From now on it's filling in, revising, sharpening, rather than full blast writing. Been enjoying the normal daily routine again and making preparations for Christmas, with the thought at the back of my mind that after, it's hard work again. Finishing seems like a far-away point in time - I'll believe when I see it. Meanwhile, waiting for the snow to fall. Haven't tried out my new skis yet - the little snow that we had last spring melted the day after I bought them.
]]>Third day indoors writing. I feel like I want to be put in one of those and spinned. (As a good substitute, going to a pikkujoulu this evening.)
]]>And moving cities back to Helsinki. What a combination. These views from the window are a welcome treat.
]]>It tells you of my activities lately that the Easter post was there until mid-June. I've been spitting out one chapter draft after another, until I got a bit tired and started writing an article for a journal instead. The ordeals aren't close to over though and I'll spend (yet another) summer indoors writing. In any case, it's sunny and hot and wonderful, so I'll have my share of swimming and barbequing at the summer cottage, and lying on the sun-warmed rocks on the nearby islands. Good thing the space I'll be working at in July doesn't have but a rooftop window.
]]>Happy Easter. I've always liked Easter but never been so enthousiastic about it - I don't know what hit me this spring. I've had these little pots of grass growing for three weeks already, they will barely survive the Easter weekend. I'll be working most of the weekend however. I just finished the first draft of one of the core chapters of my thesis, finally, late from schedule as always, but I'm happy. It's on what kind of valuations people expressed to me during the study related to cameraphones and snapshot photography. So I'll be reviewing the chapter, anxious to send it to my readers, and after I do that, I'll have my hands full of preparing a lecture for Tallinn university and a paper for a conference in Moscow. In between all this, I'll be eating lots of lamb, mämmi, and rahkapiirakka to keep me happy.
]]>Freezing at last! Light in the morning, white trees and ground, crisp, fresh air, the sound of snow under your shoes. And soon, the skating rink next door will be ready. What a change from urban Punavuori with mostly black asphalt all year round to wintery Kotka.
After my return, I've been working at Datariina, writing. As I will be for the rest of the spring and some of the summer. Currently, the Data and methods chapter is under construction. It's going ok, with the occasional wave of being tired with the whole thing and wanting to get a real job with a real salary. Well, YouTube helps, and apart from winter weather the fact that it's also the season for laskiaispulla and Runebergin torttu.
]]>After a lovely holiday in France, enjoying all the delices de France starting from Montpellier, ending with my favourite city Paris, I'm back for Christmas preparations in Highgate. We bought these branches in the village to decorate the hallway, and carried home a mini tree from Muswell Hill. With the sun and green in France, and here, we experienced the first flow of the season's spirit in the lovely small Highgate library next door. They hosted a fair on Saturday, with decorations, peaceful music, drinks and snacks, and a very cosy, intimate atmosphere.
It's only ten days now before I leave and it makes me sad. It's been so good to work and live here. I'll miss our flat, the area, the daily routine with walks in the parks, taking out DVD's from the Highgate library, shopping for food at Muswell Hill, and having the pint at the Prince of Wales in Highgate. On the other hand, I will have the beautiful Finnish spring ahead of me, an exciting phase with the thesis, and, of course, I'm looking forward to seeing my friends, family, and especially their (new) children.
The autumn has been extremely rewarding workwise. Like in Tokyo, I never thought I would get so much done in only three months. In Tokyo, it was a quantity surprise, the number of interviews, while here, a quality one: I was going to get much done, but my thinking as well as methods used evolved more than I could expect. Good supervision and working environment (quiet home) does wonders. However, this is only the beginning and I begin my post-holiday week a bit overwhelmed with multiple tasks. Taking the drafted chapter further, drafting structures for others, writing the Data and Methods one, and finishing my "autumn at LSE"-report. All asap, while arranging the departure.
Later in the week I will first stress myself with last-minute shopping (a nightmare in London, anytime), and then relax with a pie meal to mark the Christmas pub dinner. Being Finns, even in London we will start celebrating on the 23rd already, roasting whatever the piece of meat will be (in Finland, it would be ham, here, some kind of bird) focus on the big day, 24th, with a grand meal, music, tree decorations, and presents, and tune down on the 25th, the lazy day of staying at home, reading books, and eating, of course. From over my plate of English Christmas pudding, I wish everyone a Happy Christmas. See you in Finland for the New Year.
I finally realized that slicing and coding the data would not get me anywhere. Thanks to Don Slater, my supervisor at LSE, I started writing up case studies: assembling material together per individual cameraphone user. I now look at entities that contain both linguistic and visual data rather than trying to treat each piece separately. In the cases, I look for significant themes. Sneak preview in very general terms: values and evaluations, play and playfulness, mediating intimate relationships, and networks of technology are in my drawing board at the moment.
The turn from slices to cases has made me think, once again, about visual methods or visual methodology. They seem to me misleading labels that confuse more than they clarify. No wonder there was so much confusion at the Visual data seminar (see earlier posts) - everyone with their own studies, topics, methods, and views on what visual data analysis is for them.
I think that methodologically, visual material is best treated tightly together with the linguistic. The bond begins with the resarch questions and extends through the collection and analysis process to the interpretation of the visuals, depending on the research question. It's hopeless to try to look at the visuals only. The point what is the study at hand, the problem it tries to solve.
This, I guess, I had in mind in an elementary way when I separated the different areas of the Visual data seminar into studying published / empirically collected / researcher-authored visual material. If I was to organize the seminar now, I'd go directly into the subject-matter of each study and group the areas based on topic instead of the type of visual analysis employed.
Speaking of visual experiences, I went to the London Eye last week. I enjoyed all of it: the architecture, the bodily experience, the views. (Even the effortless online ticket purchase and collection :) ) There is something meditative (excluding the tourist crowds) about the huge wheel in constant movement, revolving smoothly and completely silently, looking light despite its massive scale.
Postgraduate life at LSE, on first impression, is more streamlined than what I have seen in Finnish universities. At the Sociology department's induction we were given a 45-page postgraduate handbook with a chapter on, among general practical information, "Code of practice for research students and supervisors " and "Progress requirements." Practical guidelines on what you are supposed to do and when, and what kind of help you are entitled to doing it. Money talks, I guess. With money involved, all parties are more careful about their rights and responsibilities, and of course, with money involved, there are resources to arrange systematic, well thought-out postgraduate education. Then again, while money may be at the origin of these chapters, I wonder how much it would in fact cost to think about, note down, and apply these guidelines in Finnish doctoral studies institutions.
Where money truly talks is in the amazing variety of general researcher skills courses to choose from. You should have seen me excitedly flicking through the brochures they handed out at the induction, underlining all the interesting courses. I have now signed up for "developing as an academic writer", "thesis endgame: achieving a final draft and submitting speedily," and "thesis writing." I'm still to sign up for _individual_ career advice and job interview rehearsal, and the library's EndNote course. And this was keeping cool and determining to use the few months I'm here concentrating on my own thesis. You can check everything that is on offer at www.lse.ac.uk/collections/TLC
Speaking of the library, in the picture, the library which Heidi (see link on the left) also praised in her LSE report - it's open 24/7 throughout the year.
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