Week 6 Questions (Davis)

Grossberg emphasizes a shift away from essentialism and intrinsic meaning in his description of articulation. I feel like I understand how this translates to some methodological choices: examine levels of abstraction, structures have branches and layers, a sophisticated approach to context(s), etc. But I struggle to meaningfully understand the theoretical implications. Also, I have no idea how I would know I was “finished” with an essay utilizing this approach. What is the difference between Hall’s characterization of “the premise of historical specificity” and historical materialism (p. 336)? Is this just Hall’s version of that? Is it meaningfully distinct?