Imperfect Polylogues in Practice
In the WFR special issue on Postnormal Matters John Sweeney (2021) pointed out that polylogue remains an under-theorised concept within postnormal times theory. This conference paper reports on findings from several case studies on the imperfect practices of polylogue with an eye on building theory from practice. Polyphony informs the minimalist ideal model for the co-creative processes envisioned in this project. Practice on the other hand is the sphere of warm bodies and living ideas. Here nothing is equal, ignorance and uncertainty confine the manufactured normalcy field that sets what we can see, do, talk about, imagine or make. The ambitious umbrella project titled Poly-x instigated in the framework of Open Time’s UNESCO Chair on Images of the Futures and Co-creation, aims to learn how generative polylogue(s) may help us navigate postnormal times and build transnormal potential (in the form of multiple images of the futures). To this end the project identifies, develops, and connects a series of futures-oriented activities of different scales and scopes and queries the preconditions and the nature of their impact. We have polylogued in class, in workshops and crucially, in the future oriented and generative polylogical activities of our partners. Now polylogue has become a verb.