Why did I coin the new term “Thematic Engagement”?

Summary

The author introduced "Thematic Engagement" to emphasize the importance of abstract concepts and themes in contemporary knowledge work within the context of the Project Engagement approach (v2.1).

Abstract

The author has coined the term "Thematic Engagement" to highlight the significance of abstract aspects such as concepts or themes in social practices, which are particularly relevant to contemporary knowledge workers. This term emerged from the author's work on the Project Engagement approach, specifically version 2.1, which was introduced in a Chinese thesis completed in July 2022. The thesis, spanning 116 pages, explores three core keywords: Significance, Complexity, and Genidentity. It is organized into five parts, culminating in a re-examination of Activity Theory and the development of a "meta-framework" that integrates keywords from Andy Blunden's approach and the Project Engagement approach. The author also identifies nine theoretical concepts within this framework and uses metaphors to differentiate between the abstract (concepts or themes, represented by a balloon) and concrete (materials, represented by a chair) aspects of social practices.

Opinions

The author values the abstract over the concrete, suggesting a shift in focus from materials (traditional craftsmanship) to concepts or themes (contemporary knowledge work).
The Project Engagement approach (v2.1) is presented as an innovation in understanding and engaging with social practices, moving beyond traditional Activity Theory.
The meta-framework created by the author is seen as a significant advancement, combining insights from both Andy Blunden's approach and the Project Engagement approach.
The author emphasizes the need for a toolkit, such as the Thematic Engagement Toolkit (v1.0), to navigate the complex web of concepts or themes faced by contemporary knowledge workers.
The author's work suggests that engaging with themes is crucial for modern professionals, as evidenced by the focus on "Themes of Practice" from 2019 to 2021.

Why did I coin the new term “Thematic Engagement”?

I want to highlight the abstract aspect of social practices: Concepts or Themes.

On July 20, 2022, I started writing an introduction to the Project Engagement approach (v2.0) in Chinese. The thesis was finished on July 30, 2022.

It’s a 116-page file with the following three keywords: Significance, Complexity, and Genidentity. You can find a summary in Project Engagement (v2.1) as an Innovation Approach.

The thesis was organized into the following five parts:

Part 1: Project, Projecting, and Activity

Part 2: Significance

Part 3: Complexity

Part 4: Genidentity

Part 5: Rethinking Activity Theory

Part 5 of the thesis is the outcome o re-learning Activity Theory. I discovered the following pairs of keywords for discussions:

Concepts and Themes

Project and Platform

Culture and History

Context and Settings

Finally, I made a “meta-framework” for the Project Engagement approach (v2.1). See the picture below.

The meta-framework is formed with two sets of keywords:

Activity, Concept, Culture: this set of keywords is discovered from Andy Blunden’s approach.

Actor, Settings, Society: this set of keywords is discovered from the Project Engagement approach.

I also highlight nine theoretical concepts of the Project Engagement approach (v2.1).

I use the picture below as a metaphor for the Project Engagement Approach (v2.1).

Balloon: Concepts or Themes. It refers to the abstract aspect of social practices.

Chair: Materials. It refers to the concrete aspect of social practices.

Both the “Project Engagement” approach and the “Themes of Practice” approach emphasize the abstract aspect of social practices: Concepts or Themes.

Traditional craftsmen only focus on the concrete aspect of social practices: materials.

Contemporary knowledge workers have to deal with a web of concepts or themes.

Since my primary focus is Contemporary knowledge workers, I coined the new term “Thematic Engagement” to highlight the abstract aspect of social practices.

Why did I coin the new term “Thematic Engagement”?

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