Poststructuralist Methodologies for Physical Activity Research

Theory and Practice of Foucault, Deleuze, and Latour
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-032-01882-9
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 290 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 453 g

Reihe: Qualitative Research in Sport and Physical Activity

Drawing on the work of Foucault, Deleuze, and Latour, this book opens up a poststructuralist approach to sport, exercise, and dance research. It examines how to incorporate both articulable expression and visible material elements – theoretically and methodologically – to study the force of the moving body in practice.

This book employs critical concepts including the dispositive, assemblage, and actor network to interrogate and advance our understanding of theory and method in research of physical activity practice. It asks what a poststructuralist approach might mean, especially as it concerns themes such as the body in motion, physical activity practice, network of relations, knowledge, and power for physical cultural studies scholars. Presenting in-depth case studies of adult ballet, Barre, Pilates, coaching, ice-hockey, and cross-country running, this book also examines how researchers and practitioners can begin to collaborate to create innovative instruction, training, and coaching practices.

This is a fascinating reading for advanced students and researchers working in the physical cultural studies, sociology of sport and exercise, sociology of the body, sports coaching, physical education, or social theory.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Denison, Jim

Markula, Pirkko

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Freizeitsoziologie, Konsumsoziologie, Alltagssoziologie, Populärkultur

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction 1

PART 1

Theorizing Poststructuralism

1 What Is Poststructuralism?

2 The Dispositive: Foucault’s Articulable and Visible Elements in Power Diagrams

3 Assemblage Analysis: Deleuze’s Semiotic System, Pragmatic System, and Territoriality

4 The Actor-Network Theory: Latour’s Methodological Moves

5 The Ethical Formation of the Self

PART 2

Practicing Poststructuralism

6 Foucault in Practice: Ethical Practices for a Recreational Ballet Class

PIRKKO MARKULA AND JODIE VANDEKERKHOVE

7 Practicing Foucault in a BarrePilates Class

PIRKKO MARKULA AND JOY CHIKINDA

8 Movement of Learning: Thinking Differently about Physical Activity Research Practice

9 The “Post” Project: What Else Can Women’s Naked Bodies Do?

PIRKKO MARKULA AND ALLISON JEFFREY

10 Poststructuralist Vision for Practice Design in Sport

11 Concussion Return to Play Policies and Protocols: An Actor-Network Theory Approach

JIM DENISON AND DALLAS ANSELL

12 Running Fast: A Socio-Material Perspective

13 The Air We Breathe

Finale: Concluding Moves

Über Autor(innen)

Dr. Pirkko Markula is a Professor of Socio-cultural Studies of Physical Activity at the University of Alberta, Canada. Her research interests include poststructuralist analyses of dance, exercise, and sport using Foucault and Deleuze’s theory, (post)qualitative inquiry, and performance ethnography. She is also a contemporary dancer, choreographer, and a qualified Pilates instructor.

Dr. Jim Denison is a Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation at the University of Alberta, Canada. A sport sociologist and coach educator, his research explores the formation of coaches’ practices through a poststructuralist theory by Foucault and Latour. He was also the former director of the Canadian Athletics Coaching Centre (2010–2014).