Basho

This Special Issue of TEXT presents writing at the betwixt and between: in a space that is an intimate act between a writer and their practice and is simultaneously the result of a shared space – a creative discussion between editors and fellow contributors. In April 2015, a diverse group of scholars – from those embarking on their research careers to very experienced academics, representing a range of disciplines and from many different countries including Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, Georgia, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States of America – met over three days for the inaugural conference of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Inquiry held at the State Library of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. The main objective of the conference, and the overall mission of the Institute, was to promote multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research as part of a broader effort to connect different experiences, research fields and spheres of knowledge. This Special Issue looks at how the objectives of the conference were achieved through explorations of different types of storytelling.

The theme of the 2015 conference – ‘Re-visioning Space(s), Time and Bodies’ – allowed for these three elements to unfold in a way which encouraged deep exploration of the individual elements as well as how these relate to, and interact with, each other. Moreover, the conference sought to challenge some of the dominant ways of understanding space, time and bodies: categories that we each experience every day but that can impact upon us in quite different ways. This goal of challenging pervasive narratives was achieved through papers that facilitated explorations of the changing dimensions of time and movement, human/post/trans and/or non-humans, contested flows, ‘webs’ and networks as well as the connections between these concepts. Of particular note is how the papers pushed mainstream approaches, ideas and topics to the peripheries of traditional academic research practices – but all through the exploration of various forms of creative practice. This ensured that even the familiar was made new. The inspiring, though often underestimated, notion of interdisciplinarity and the multiple shades this concept assumes in different practices – and in the world around us – created a perfect milieu for a stimulating exchange of ideas and points of view. Such points of view are critical, as observed by Harvey Graff, who has noted:
    In my view, interdisciplinarity is defined and constructed by questions and problems of theory or practice, knowledge or conditions of living, and the means developed to answer those questions in new and different ways. Interdisciplines are fashioned from elements of different disciplines to form distinct approaches, understandings, or contexts. Interdisciplines are themselves historical constructs (2015: 5).

This Special Issue represents a selection of the research papers presented at the conference, all of which have been considerably expanded for publication, and that offer an exciting journey around the three key issues that influence our everyday lives: space, time and the body. Each article simultaneously serves to unpack some of the processes that can support interdisciplinary research in these areas and works to extend some of the conversations that were started at the conference. These conversations can be seen in the way that many of the articles deliberately reference the work of contributions to this Special Issue. Ulrike Sturm’s reflective visualisations add another dimension to the Special Issue; demonstrating interdisciplinarity as a visually creative, as well as textually creative, pursuit. Readers will discover many more such overlaps and linkages through the articles, with each seeking to offer clear connections to other contributions within the Special Issue and enhance this idea of this issue as a narrative dialogue. The primary purpose of this collection is to provide an overview of the potential of interdisciplinary research: in this way, we hope it will serve as a useful resource for those who wish to explore a variety of examples reflecting current interdisciplinary practice.