About LABOR
LAB-OR (Lab of the Ordinary) is an interdisciplinary research initiative based at Yaşar University, Faculty of Communication, dedicated to exploring the dynamics of everyday life. Our lab brings together scholars, graduate students, artists, and independent researchers to examine ordinary practices at the intersection of media, technology, and culture. Moving beyond static research agendas, LAB-OR operates through annual thematic programs responsive to social transformations, disseminating knowledge through both academic publications and public/artistic outputs such as exhibitions, films, and digital projects.
Manifesto
The ordinary is not merely a space of repetition: it is a political realm hosting micro-resistances, creative acts, and new forms of solidarity. As LAB-OR, we advocate for:
Moving academic production beyond the confines of buildings, institutions, and rote theories
Making visible the silent yet transformative power within everyday life
A collective language of production that does not decouple theory from practice, data from art, or the university from the street
For us, research is not just observation; it is the collective discovery of the extraordinary potential within the ordinary.
Research Vision
LAB-OR's research vision is built upon the "politics of the everyday." Our research focuses on how digital spaces, embodied experiences, sonic cultures, and technological infrastructures are renegotiated by individuals. Our primary goal is to establish an international research network that bridges global theoretical debates with local and contemporary practices. Through our flexible and non-hierarchical working model, we aim to cultivate an innovative and methodologically diverse academic culture that encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and remains sensitive to social issues.