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Event with Ludovic Coupaye | Making Processes Visible with the Chaîne Opératoire: A 2-Day Methodological Workshop
Join us for a two-day workshop on the Chaîne Opératoire, an anthropological method for documenting and analyzing technical activities. This workshop, led by Ludovic Coupaye, Associate Professor in Anthropology at UCL (UK) and Director of the Centre for the Anthropology of Technics and Technodiversity, is hosted by the Knowledge, Technology and Innovation Group of Wageningen University & Research and the Technical Action Cluster of the Centre for Space, Place and Society.
Day 1 - May 7
Morning (10:00 – 12:00): Introductory Lecture on the Chaîne Opératoire and the Anthropology of Technics The session will introduce the concept of Chaîne Opératoire, beginning with a review of the historical development of documenting technical activities in anthropology. We will explore its origins in the work of Marcel Mauss, its evolution in archaeology and anthropology, and its key components.
Afternoon (13:30 – 15:30): Prepping Workshop on the Chaîne Opératoire This interactive session will prepare participants to document technical activities. We will discuss the key concepts from the morning lecture, examine examples of Chaîne Opératoire drawn by students and researchers, and address questions from the participants.
Evening (16:00+): Documentation of a Technical Activity After the workshop, participants will document a short technical activity of their choice (no more than 5 minutes). This can be done at home or at another safe, convenient location. The documentation will serve as the foundation for the next day's activities.
Day 2 - May 8
Morning (10:00 – 12:00): Graphic Construction of Chaînes Opératoires
Using their notes from the previous day, participants will create graphic representations of the technical activity they documented. These will be uploaded to a shared Padlet platform for further analysis and discussion during the afternoon session.
Afternoon (13:30 – 17:00): Presentation and Methodological Discussion
The afternoon will focus on the analysis and discussion of the Chaînes Opératoires uploaded to Padlet. We will identify key anthropological themes that emerge from the documented activities and explore how this method can provide insights into these themes. We will also reflect on the strengths and limitations of the Chaîne Opératoire approach.
Registration
Spaces are limited. To sign up, please register via this form.
For questions, please reach out to Stephanie Hobbis, stephanie.hobbis@wur.nl. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting and informative workshop.
Go to the website of the Centre for Space, Place and Society for more information on this event.
