By Fiona Bruckman
This thesis examines the full breadth of the “repair movement” in a broad and disruptive way that centers repair not only as a tangible practice which provides sites for connection (as with Repair Café) and grounds for political contention (as with Right to Repair), but also as an idea which drives social change beyond the boundaries of organization. Through an application of Langdon Winner’s STS theory of technological somnambulance and contemporary theories of organizing and activism, the thesis looks at the myriad manifestations of resistance through repair and repair’s importance as a political and cultural force for suggesting and then enacting systemic change.
Fiona Bruckman recently graduated from Vassar College with a major in Science, Technology, and Society and correlate sequences in Hispanic Studies and Urban Studies. Fiona was first introduced to the repair movement through an internship with Sustainable Hudson Valley as a Repair Café coordinator. Moving forward, Fiona hopes to continue to be involved in sustainable organizing efforts—her involvement with the repair movement and the writing of this thesis taught her so much about both organizing strategy and the importance of marginal resistance.
Questions can be directed to fiona.bruckman1@gmail.com.