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Jo Turbitt, College Development Network, United KingdomAbstract
This hybrid autoethnographic narrative evaluates the emancipatory potential of Futures methods within an education system dominated by neoliberal “Dark Arts.” Employing a mixed-methods framework, the research explores whether these methodologies disrupt or reinforce systemic constraints and how this shapes practitioner agency. Findings unearthed a “productive paradox”: Futures methods are not inherently liberatory but amplify existing intentions. When utilised uncritically, they produce “old wine in new bottles,” (Milojevic & Inayatullah, 2015) merely reinforcing metrics. However, critical and reflexive application allows for “architecting resistance” against performative norms. As the research unfolded, one image repeatedly surfaced in my reflections. Initially appearing as a symbol of hope amidst uncertainty, the Phoenix gradually evolved into a conceptual companion for the inquiry itself. It came to represent both Futures methodologies and the human capacity for hope and agency. Like Futures methods, the Phoenix carries transformative potential but no guarantee of transformation. It can illuminate possibilities, but it can also be caged. In this sense, the Phoenix became not merely a literary device but an organising metaphor through which to explore the relationship between imagination, power, hope, and agency. Following its trail would lead me into a labyrinth of scholarship, reflection, and discovery.
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Conference: PCE2026Stream: Nurturing Creativity & Innovation: New
This paper is part of the PCE2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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