Introduction

Abstract

This special issue is a critical celebration of the work of Deirdre Boden in illuminating our understanding of organizing activity and talk. It is based on contributions to the conference Ethnomethodology: A Critical Celebration. The conference was organized by Stephen Linstead and myself and held at the University of Essex, UK, from March 20th to the 22nd of 2002. All papers in the issue are based on those originally presented at the conference, but subsequently modified and rewritten for publication. ⟨http://www2.fmg.uva.nl/emca/boden.htm⟩ (accessed May 18th, 2004). This obituary also formed the basis for part of the brief biography included here. The conference invited imaginative contributions of any sort that honoured the spirit of Harold Garfinkel's writing and teaching. However, we also hoped to offer an arena for all those working with ethnomethodology, conversation analysis or other variants, to meet, celebrate, reflect, critique and develop what remains a vital theoretical resource and form of empirical analysis for the 21st century. In particular, we said that, ‘Due to the sad and untimely death of Deirdre Boden in 2001, we would particularly welcome any proposals that use and develop her interest in interaction in work settings’.