Places, Affordances, Atmospheres: A Pathic Aesthetics (Ambiances, Atmospheres and Sensory Experiences of Spaces)

This book offers a diverse understanding and practical approach towards the growing area of atmosphere research, in the context of philosophy, geography and architecture.It begins by tracing back to the model of experience called the'pathic'. Drawing on the phenomenology of theorists Hermann Schmitz and Gernot Böhme, introductory chapters offer a grounding for the beginnings of pathic research. The chapters go on to apply pathic framework to a range of practical cases from theatre studies to education. Atmospheres are often defined as affects one feels in a'lived space'and researchers are becoming more interested in the emotions we feel in natural and artificial environments across day to day life. By providing a critical re-evaluation of phenomenology and aesthetics, the book brings a series of unexplored and controversial subjects to light, opening up a new context for thinking about our everyday life and experiences inscribed within aesthetics, politics, literature, spatial practices and pedagogy and effectively merging abstract philosophy and concrete practice.This book is particularly poignant in the emerging field of Atmosphere and New Aesthetics research. Practitioners, academics and researchers working within Cultural Geography, Aesthetics, Art and Philosophy will find this book extremely valuable. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 6 Preface 8 Author’s note 13 PART ONE: Pathic aesthetics and New Phenomenology 14 1. Art and atmospheres: the approach of a pathic aesthetics 16 Notes 30 2. The psychologistic-introjectivistic-reductionist paradigm: the source of all errors 34 Notes 40 3. A history of repressions 42 Notes 47 4. Neo-phenomenological “therapies” 49 Notes 53 PART TWO: Atmospheres, presences, expressive qualities 56 5. Are there inauthentic atmospheric feelings? The overestimation of intentionality 58 Notes 66 6. Good regressions: mineness and absolute subjectivity 69 Notes 78 7. Condemned to sense (and expression): eight theses on atmospheres as expressive wholes 79 Thesis number 1: atmospheric expressiveness is an irreducible qualitative whole 80 Thesis number 2: atmospheric expressiveness is not given by discrete sense-data but by internally meaningful chaotic-manifold situations 81 Thesis number 3: atmospheric expressiveness eludes the traditional stratified conception of the relationships between nature and culture 82 Thesis number 4: atmospheric expressiveness can be both intentional and unintentional 83 Thesis number 5: atmospheric expressiveness is not the external manifestation of something internal 84 Thesis number 6: atmospheric expressiveness cannot be explained in associationistic terms 88 Thesis number 7: atmospheric expressiveness implies an articulate felt-bodily communication 92 Thesis number 8: atmospheric expressiveness is the outcome of affordances or ecstasies (but not properties) 93 Notes 95 8. Come rain or come shine ...: the (neo)phenomenological will-to-presentness 97 Notes 105 PART THREE: Atmospherological exercises 108 Two premises 108 Notes 110 9. Architectural affordances: the atmospheric authority of spaces 112 Notes 126 10. A house is not a home: dwelling means cultivating atmospheres 128 Notes 135 11. Inclusiveness and immersion 137 Notes 148 12. Found or created? The genius loci as an (atmospheric) experience 150 Notes 160 13. Stone, soil and sand: earthy atmospheres 163 Notes 169 14. Like leaves in the wind: does democracy have its own atmosphere? 172 Notes 179 15. Intentionality and unintentionality in the pedagogical atmosphere 180 Notes 186 16. Theatrical atmospheres: much ado about nothing? 187 Notes 199 Bibliography 201 Index 217 "This book offers a diverse understanding and practical approach towards the growing area of atmosphere research, in the context of philosophy, geography and architecture. It begins by tracing back to the model of experience called the "pathic". Drawing on the phenomenology of theorists Hermann Schmitz and Gernot Beohme, introductory chapters offer a grounding for the beginnings of pathic research. The chapters go on to apply pathic framework to a range of practical cases from theatre studies to education. Atmospheres are often defined as affects one feels in a "lived space" and researchers are becoming more interested in the emotions we feel in natural and artificial environments across day to day life. By providing a critical re-evaluation of phenomenology and aesthetics, the book brings a series of unexplored and controversial subjects to light, opening up a new context for thinking about our everyday life and experiences inscribed within aesthetics, politics, literature, spatial practices and pedagogy and effectively merging abstract philosophy and concrete practice. This book is particularly poignant in the emerging field of Atmosphere and New Aesthetics research. Practitioners, academics and researchers working within Cultural Geography, Aesthetics, Art and Philosophy will find this book extremely valuable." -- Provided by publisher This book offers a diverse understanding and practical approach towards the growing area of atmosphere research, in the context of philosophy, geography and architecture. It begins by tracing back to the model of experience called the "pathic". Drawing on the phenomenology of theorists Hermann Schmitz and Gernot Böhme, introductory chapters offer a grounding for the beginnings of pathic research. The chapters go on to apply pathic framework to a range of practical cases from theatre studies to education. Atmospheres are often defined as affects one feels in a "lived space" and researchers are becoming more interested in the emotions we feel in natural and artificial environments across day to day life. By providing a critical re-evaluation of phenomenology and aesthetics, the book brings a series of unexplored and controversial subjects to light, opening up a new context for thinking about our everyday life and experiences inscribed within aesthetics, politics, literature, spatial practices and pedagogy and effectively merging abstract philosophy and concrete practice "This book offers a diverse understanding and practical approach towards the growing area of atmosphere research, in the context of Philosophy, Geography and Architecture. By providing a critical re-evaluation of phenomenology and aesthetics, the book brings a series of unexplored and controversial subjects to light, opening up a new context for thinking about our everyday life and experiences inscribed within aesthetics, politics, literature, spatial practices and pedagogy amd effectively merging abstract philosophy and concrete practice"-- Publisher