Staying With the Trouble, a Rhizomatic Approach to Posthuman Methods: Assemblages and Becoming in the Posthuman...

Area of Science:

• Phenomenology
• Disability Studies
• Environmental Humanities

Background:

• Persistent pain is a global health issue, leading to significant disability.
• Current research on pain often uses human-centered approaches, neglecting real-world contexts.
• Posthuman philosophies offer alternative frameworks to challenge human-centric views.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how posthuman philosophies can reframe the understanding of persistent pain.
• To investigate the entanglement of walking, pain, and landscape through a posthuman lens.
• To reflect on the methodological challenges and emergent nature of transdisciplinary research.

Main Methods:

• Utilized mobile phone video footage to capture lived experiences of pain while walking.
• Employed a rhizomatic, emergent methodological approach involving individuals with pain, academics, and clinicians.
• Facilitated collective exploration through project meetings and responsive method development.

Main Results:

• The study revealed complex, more-than-human entanglements in the experience of walking with pain.
• "Becoming posthuman" was an emergent process, not a predetermined outcome.
• A transdisciplinary, collaborative approach was crucial for navigating methodological uncertainties.

Conclusions:

• Posthuman frameworks offer transformative potential for understanding the multifaceted nature of lived pain experiences.
• The study underscores the value of emergent and responsive methodologies in research.
• Integrating diverse perspectives (walkers, academics, clinicians) enriches the understanding of pain within its environmental context.