Читать книгу The Sage Handbook of Social Constructionist Practice - Группа авторов - Страница 142

Zooming out to a networked view, we can tease apart the mechanics of the practice network, which might be useful for reflexively investigating how practices network together in familiar, tacit ways, engaged as second nature. In contrast to a commingling and convergence of conditions in an assemblage view, a networked view feeds off procedural familiarity, practices become linked together in ways that seem predictable, one practice inviting the next. The more the practices are associated together, the more familiar the next step in the practice becomes. Hinge practices are those which are central to the perpetuation of a network of practices, a practice which, if altered, changes the network (Harré, 2009). Tom Jackson described certain practices that were important in his network of gambling practices.

In Figure 10.4, we depict four hinge practices that network together to sustain gambling: cell phone practice at work, driving to the casino, walking into the casino, and playing the VLT. Note that other daily life/home practices could also be included in Tom Jackson's larger network of practices, and expanded upon for a more thorough analysis. Tom Jackson described the VLT game on his cell phone as analogous to the VLT he played in the casino. Working the night shift alone, he played this game when he was bored, feeling lonely, or wanted a break. His engagement in the cell phone game was more than escape; however, what happened on the game (whether he won or lost) was associated with particular feelings and beliefs about his next steps. If he was winning in the game, he would go home after work, because he had ‘already won all of his wins’ (a superstitious ‘saying’ described in the next section). However, if he was losing, he knew he was ‘due for a win’ (another superstitious ‘saying’) and embodied anticipation of a win would be felt in his body.

Figure 10.4 Zooming out: network of practices

If he lost in his cell phone game, at the end of his shift he would drive to the casino (a few blocks away, on his route home). On the drive there (a hinge practice), he would be filled with anticipation, expectation, adrenaline, and excitement. He would walk into the casino (a hinge practice), which was a completely different world (compared to his warehouse job) – an escape that was exciting. The bells, sounds, and lights are all part of the socio-material ‘place’ of walking into the casino, and the next hinge practice of playing on a VLT.