Affect theory and the concept of atmosphere

Journal article

Brown, Steven D., Kanyeredzi, Ava, McGrath, Laura, Reavey, Paula and Tucker, Ian (2019). Affect theory and the concept of atmosphere. Distinktion: Journal of Social Theory. 20 (1), pp. 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910x.2019.1586740
AuthorsBrown, Steven D., Kanyeredzi, Ava, McGrath, Laura, Reavey, Paula and Tucker, Ian
Abstract

The concept of atmosphere is a way of emplacing affect and affect theory. Work in contemporary social geography has done much to demonstrate how elemental forces become enveloped in atmospheres. However it tends to under-theorise the role of historically structured socio-cultural forces and the modes of engagement of persons with the atmospheric. In this paper we identify core themes in the literature – the inbetweeness of atmospheres, tuning space, the folding space-times and modes of engagement. We then develop these themes further through an encounter with work in anthropology, architecture and ecological psychology. Reflections on fieldwork in a medium-secure forensic psychiatric hospital are then used to illustrate the application of atmospheric thinking to a particular setting. We conclude with a call for a renewed ‘ontographic imagination’.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article to be published by Taylor & Francis in Distinktion. It will be available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740

KeywordsSocial Sciences (miscellaneous); Sociology and Political Science
Year2019
JournalDistinktion: Journal of Social Theory
Journal citation20 (1), pp. 5-24
PublisherInforma UK Limited
ISSN1600-910X
2159-9149
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910x.2019.1586740
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740
Publication dates
Online05 Apr 2019
Print02 Jan 2019
Publication process dates
Deposited28 Jan 2019
Accepted22 Jan 2019
Accepted author manuscript
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Open
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