Affect, Places and Spaces

The concept of ‘affective economies’, as introduced by the feminist and cultural theorist Sara Ahmed, is one that focuses on the social contours of emotion where, as Ahmed writes, ‘feelings do not reside in subjects or objects, but are produced as effects of circulation’ (Ahmed 2014, The Cultural Politics of Emotions, p. 8). By drawing attention to a level of analysis that looks at social relations rather than merely the individual or collective bodies alone, the concept highlights the role that context and, indeed, different contexts, can play in the production of emotion.

In this pre-conference, we propose to explore where context in myriad forms can take us. In particular, we will examine the connections between affect, places and spaces from different disciplinary perspectives, including philosophy, critical psychology and linguistics, where we'll actively bring in research from diverse contexts. Our driving aims are to draw attention to how analyses of affect, places and spaces can influence understandings of emotion, as well as to illustrate how research from diverse cultural and social contexts can enrich the wider emotion community.

The pre-conference will consist of a series of presentations and a panel discussion.

SCHEDULE

09:00-09:45

Arina Pismenny, Philosophy, University of Florida. Social Contexts and Feeling Rules.

09:45-10:30

Alex Panicacci, Linguistics, Queen Mary University London and Psychology, University of Washington. Are linguistically, culturally, and racially diverse identities less integrated into a society? Creating a cartography of diversity in the Pacific Northwest.

10:30-11:00

Tea

11:00-11:45

Reina Takamatsu, Psychology, Kyoto University. Nature worship in Shinto, disgust and environmental decision-making in Japan.

11:45-13:00

Panel discussion: How do analyses of affect, places and spaces influence understandings of emotion, in your own research, and how do you envision research going forward?

Panellists:

• Demond Hill, Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley.
• Arina Pismenny, Philosophy, University of Florida.
• Alex Panicacci, Linguistics, Queen Mary University London and Psychology, University of Washington.
• Reina Takamatsu, Psychology, Kyoto University.

With input from Mary Carman, Peace Kiguwa and Xoliswa Lushozi (University of the Witwatersrand).

13:00

Lunch