Prisms on loneliness - a literary qualitative method to capture the intangible

Abstract

A prism is a geometric figure that can be used to understand spatial shapes and the refraction of light. Prisms come in many shapes and sizes, from small natural crystals to large buildings. I have chosen the word prism to describe the method I introduce in this article, because a prism can change what we see in a simple way, shed new light on it, and thus potentially change our perspective. It is a multifaceted figure that can be actively rotated and angled to see something different or new. In this article I discuss how working with literary prisms may be a way to formulate new questions and comprehend a phenomenon such as loneliness that often lingers in the background, unsaid, or not yet formulated in an interview. The method is not restricted to studies on loneliness, but relevant in relation to the processing and presentation of a broad variety of interview material concerning tabooed issues or themes that are difficult to address directly.