Editors’ introduction
Marianela Barrios Aquino Silvia Frota
University of Sussex University of Lisbon
This there is at least one point that seems to reach agreement: the inter -
disciplinary nature of the study of identity and the necessity thereof.
By interdisciplinarity we mean the possibility presented by the fertile
space between disciplines (McGregor, 2005:4 ) to shed some light upon
the subject of identity, that is to say, to conduct identity studies using
theoretical and methodological frameworks developed under the scrutiny
of different disciplines will result in a unified body of knowledge beyond
that of the individual disciplines. Ideally, the interdisciplinary nature of
the work is such, that “the sum of its parts, the whole has totally different
properties, to the point that the original contributions are no longer
identifiable” (McGregor, 2005:5 ), thus becoming one single, coherent body
of knowledge. This is also first and foremost the perspective of this book,
and the authors here included have greatly succeeded in establishing a
coherent and consistent dialogue between the disciplines involved in their
research.
Although interdisciplinary research seems to be a desired reality, the
realization of this principle should not be taken for granted. As a matter
of fact, in our perspective, it is still an issue to be considered and its success -
ful application should be celebrated as a great success in mediation, to be
attributed to the researcher. Sometimes — perhaps more often than not
— academic prejudice prevails and researchers from different fields look
at each other with a certain lack of confidence or at least with a certain
awkwardness.
We are not only referring to the broader philosophical, theoretical or
ideological side of interdisciplinary work. Instead we are set to consider
some practices that underlie academic fields and that are set in motion
almost surreptitiously /unconsciously. What makes a paper readable?
Which are the criteria or characteristics that determine the quality of a
paper in an academic perspective? What kind of language, structure and
content should an academic paper have? Is there an academic culture or
even an academic identity that should run through all the papers/works
that want to be considered “academic”? Entitled to the academic label?
And where does that ‘culture’ come from?
However, while although the vast majority of scholars would probably
agree upon the value of diversity, the respect of differences, the un avoidable
and healthy, prolific, productive ampleness of interdisciplinary work, they
would probably demand a common ground, something that would make
those texts recognizable as academic papers, infused with academic value.
