Professor Dawn Lyon , along with colleagues Corine van Emmerik (Goldsmiths) and Rebecca Coleman (Bristol), has published a new article titled, Towards a minor sociology of futures: Shifting futures in Mass Observation accounts of the COVID-19 pandemic, in the Journal of Sociology.
This article advocates for a “minor sociology of futures,” which emphasises the importance of small, everyday shifts in how people perceive and shape their futures. This approach contrasts with studies that examine large-scale societal changes in the relationships between past, present, and future. The paper analyses responses from the UK public, collected during the early phase of the COVID pandemic, to explore how people adapted their routines and future plans in the face of uncertainty. Drawing on the concept of “minor literature” by Deleuze, the paper argues that these minor temporalities offer new possibilities for reimagining the future. The pandemic, like other crises, disrupted established “temporal architectures,” forcing people to rethink how they organise time. By focusing on these minor changes, the paper proposes a more nuanced understanding of how individuals and societies navigate uncertain futures, particularly in the face of global disruptions such as the pandemic, climate change, and social injustices.
You can find more about Professor Lyon’s research on time and on Rhythmanalysis here.