
Key details
Time
- 5:30pm – 7pm
Location
- Kensington
-
Senior Common Room, Frayling Building, RCA Kensington
Price
- Free
Who could attend
- Everyone
Type
- Workshop
A workshop on worker's inquiry hosted by the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art.
The practice of a Worker’s Inquiry is a powerful method for investigating work, resistance, and our communities. Rooted in Marxist traditions, workers’ inquiry combines theory and practice to explore how work shapes our world. In this workshop, participants will gain a foundational understanding of the history and theoretical framework of workers’ inquiry, with insights into its relevance for analysing the complexities of contemporary work, particularly within and beyond architectural practice. They will draw upon recent examples of inquiries both situated in static workplaces and with workers whose work is interwoven with the geography of the city itself.
This is intended to be a hands-on workshop, with participants collaborating in a collective investigation to explore the hidden world of work. Collectively we will explore the tools of inquiry in real-time. This practical experience will be supplemented by guidance on how to interpret findings within a theoretical framework, enabling participants to use these analytical skills in their own research or future practice. The purpose of the workshop is to encourage participants to think critically about work, power, and resistance in our workplaces and cities.
Dr Jamie Woodcock is a Senior Lecturer in digital economy at King's College London. He is the author of books including Troublemaking (Verso, 2023), Marx at the Arcade (Haymarket, 2019), and Working the Phones (Pluto, 2017). He is on the editorial board of Notes from Below and Historical Materialism.
Lydia Hughes is a Postgraduate Researcher at City St George’s, University of London, currently researching care work. She is on the editorial board of Notes from Below, was the Head of Organising at the IWGB until 2021 and is the author of Troublemaking (Verso, 2023).