Into the Gateway: Project on Power, Place and Publics

This book explores the University of Nevada, Reno's Masterplan, which extends the university into the adjacent community, from the perspective of multiple publics. It provides a thick description of a local issue that resonates with communities across the country and offers a theoretical intervention into the same material site. It is unique for its compatibility with a wide range of theoretical perspectives, collaborative research, and challenge to the pervasive intellectual terrain that pits one theory against another.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 134 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book is a significant contribution to the growing trend towards field methods in rhetorical scholarship, as it brings together distinct chapters based on a common object of study: the University of Nevada, Reno's Masterplan, which aims to extend the university into the adjacent community. By examining the perennial issue of university-community relations from the perspective of multiple publics, this book offers a rich and detailed description of a local issue that has resonance across communities nationwide.

The fieldwork for each chapter was conducted during a single, week-long site visit, where scholars engaged in collaborative research efforts. The visit involved studying the asymmetrical traction among different communities as they organized, publicized, and advocated positions around a proposed redevelopment project. The results of this professional experiment, known as the Project on Power, Place, and Publics, are presented in each chapter, offering theoretical interventions into the same material site, showcasing diverse place-based field methods, and modeling the scholarly outcomes of work that combines slow, deliberate, and thoughtful analysis with the fast pace and spontaneous demands of participatory research.

One of the unique features of this volume is its ability to demonstrate the compatibility of field methods with a wide range of theoretical perspectives. The chapters in this book were produced through a collaborative process, involving teams of researchers who worked closely with multiple local partners. This collaboration not only enriched the research but also fostered deep engagement and mutual learning among the participants. By challenging the pervasive intellectual terrain that pits one theory against another, this book showcases how diverse scholarly approaches can complement and reinforce one another.

In addition to the original chapters, this book includes a new introduction, afterword, and post-script material from the authors. These additional sections provide further insights into the research process, the findings, and their implications for rhetorical scholarship and practice.

Overall, this book is a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners interested in exploring the complexities of university-community relations, field methods, and collaborative research. It offers a rich and nuanced understanding of a local issue that has broader implications for higher education, urban planning, and community development.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032193977