Affect Theory and the Concept of Atmosphere

Article

Tucker, I., Brown, S., Kanyeredzi, A., Mcgrath, L. and Reavey, P. 2019. Affect Theory and the Concept of Atmosphere. Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory. 20 (1), pp. 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740
AuthorsTucker, I., Brown, S., Kanyeredzi, A., Mcgrath, L. and Reavey, P.
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’.

KeywordsFeelings, Gernot Böhme, attunement, tuned space, stimmung, forensic mental health services, affordances
JournalDistinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory
Journal citation20 (1), pp. 5-24
ISSN1600-910X
Year2019
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Accepted author manuscript
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740
Publication dates
Online05 Apr 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted28 Jan 2019
Deposited12 Sep 2019
Copyright holder© 2019 Taylor & Francis.
Copyright informationThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Distinktion on 05/04/2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/1600910X.2019.1586740.
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