Interculturality as an Object of Research and Education: Observing, Reflecting and Critiquing

Description

This book proposes a new method for working on the complex and polysemic notion of interculturality, aimed at scholars, students and educators who have an interest in enriching and challenging their own take on this somewhat controversial scientific notion. Multiple examples of observability made by the authors are provided to illustrate the method. The book helps readers to look at themselves as ‘producers’, ‘consumers’ and ‘promoters’ of selected knowledge of interculturality. This book represents an original contribution to the field, by introducing the importance of observation and reflexivity in building up varied epistemic engagements with the notion of interculturality. Contents List of Figures 1 On the Bridge of INTERCULTURALITY 1.1 Prelude: We are All the Observerd 1.2 On the Need to Observe INTERCULTURALITY 1.3 About the Book [Suggested Reading] References 2 INTERCULTURALITY as a Deafening and Blinding Ideological Notion 2.1 The ‘Hidden King’ 2.2 Chinese Students’ Ideologies of INTERCULTURALITY 2.3 What INTERCULTURALITY Then? Or How to Deal with the Diversity of INTERCULTURALITY? [Suggested Reading] References 3 Interculturality-As-Altering 3.1 Alter, Change, Transform [Suggested Reading] References 4 The Power of Mirroring: Towards a Catoptric of INTERCULTURALITY 4.1 Basic Principle: Turning Inward 4.2 Etymologies and Beliefs [Suggested Reading] References 5 Observality for ‘Silent’ Reflexivity and Criticality 5.1 On Liberating Ourselves 5.2 Working Principles for Observality 5.3 Imagined Q & A [Suggested Reading] References 6 Observing Our Observality 6.1 Time to be Observerds 6.2 Observing ‘Doing’ Identity While Reflecting on How One Constructs Self 6.2.1 Fluid Dates 6.2.2 Self-talk 6.3 Reflecting on Self Through Observing Encounters 6.3.1 Co-constructing Others 6.3.2 Inconsequential Encounters 6.3.3 ‘Tiger Mums’ 6.4 Observing as a Way of Reflecting on One’s Discomfort 6.4.1 McDonaldization 6.4.2 The Use of English 6.4.3 Bling-bling 6.4.4 Reminders 6.4.5 Omnipresent (Toy) Guns 6.4.6 Graduation Day 6.4.7 Time 6.5 Observing Perceived ‘Contradictions’ as a Way of Confronting Self to Self 6.6 Observing Things to Shake the Senses 6.6.1 Bread 6.6.2 Coca Cola 6.6.3 Cultural Shirts 6.6.4 Hometown 6.6.5 Luxurious but also Fake [Suggested Reading] References 7 Accepting to Be Naïve like a Fool 7.1 Beyond ‘Noisy’ Ideologies 7.2 Mirroring Change 7.3 The Power of Writing for and With Self—Through the Other! [Suggested Reading] References