Dismantling the products of global flows: A model for a children’s global (un)makerspace

Abstract

This article discusses one specific form of makerspace for children – hereafter, referred to as (un)makerspace – whose activities consist mainly in dismantling discarded toys and electronics, characterised as a global makerspace. The article presents the activities of children participating in a number of makerspaces in Melbourne, Australia. The ‘materials’ children engaged with, mostly discarded toys and electronics, the detritus of global capitalist flows, became of prime importance and active agents in activities undertaken. The participants’ engagement consisted predominantly of dismantling of the ‘waste’ and creating new assemblages from the remains. Aiming to answer the question of how much playing, creativity and learning opportunities could children encounter in an (un)makerspace, the article will be theoretically framed by posthumanism and new materialism theory. We end with the proposition that (un)makerspaces present underrepresented and underappreciated pedagogical and civic-engagement opportunities.

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