Affect theory and the concept of atmosphere

Bibliographic Data

ID8093028
AuthorsSteven D Brown (0000-0003-2880-9242, The Open University, corresponding author), Ava Kanyeredzi (0000-0002-6746-4921, University of East London), Laura Mcgrath (0000-0002-9121-9870, The Open University), Paula Reavey (0000-0002-0903-9097, The Open University), Ian Tucker (0000-0002-1314-2222, The Open University)
Year2019
Volume20
Issue1
Pages5-24
Publication date2019-01-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDistinktion Journal of Social Theory (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1600-910X • E-ISSN: 2159-9149
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/1600910x.2019.1586740
OpenAlexW2914175036
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited24

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 of 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

Affect (linguistics · Atmosphere (unit · Epistemology · Geography · Linguistics · Meteorology · Sociology · Work (physics · Communication · Engineering · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Participatory Visual Research Methods · Philosophy · Posthumanist Ethics and Activism · Mechanical Engineering