A f f e c t i v
e F u t u r e s
Affectivity exists within
relational fields of intensity, operating between different forms of
agency. Some recent academic work has focused on how affectivity can
bridge time and space and challenge concepts such as scale. Brian
Massumi's concept of 'affective facts' expresses the transductive power
of affectivity, creating factual realities out of the relational worlds
of anticipation, potential, fear, hope and anxiety.
This issue will attempt to marry
theoretical approaches to the power of affectivity with empirical
encounters. Affective futures can be seen as central to conventional geographical concerns
such as urban regeneration, migration and
development,whilst more radical discourses on emotional geographies, or
technological futures are infused with anticipation. Promise is
a integral part of
politics and is a key concern of electioneering politicians. An
analysis of the politics of promise might focus on contemporary or
history election campaigns, alongside different narratives of outcome.
From an economic perspective, articles might focus on the dynamic
changes of the market system and its impact on politics, cities, or
personal experience. Energy and climate change pose great economic,
political and geographic challenges to the world of the future, and it
is clear that different spaces will be differentially affected by
change. Research might focus on particular regions, countries or
industries that are set to benefit from the increase in oil prices, or
those which are said to be under greatest threat from sea level rises.
The
editors are optimistic about the potential of this issue to develop a
relatively new area of research, expressing the power of affect as an
analytical focus to bridge a range of disciplines, and to connect
theoretical approaches with an empirical focus.
Related
references:
B Anderson et al. (2007) Geographies of
nano-technoscience Area 39.2, 139–142
Massumi B 2005a The future birth of an affective fact Conference
Proceedings: Genealogies of Biopolitics (http://www.radicalempiricism.org) Accessed
30 April 2006
Massumi B 2005b Fear (the spectrum said) Positions 13 31–48
Mulkay M 1993 Rhetorics of hope and fear in the great embryo
debate Social Studies of Science 23
721–42
Anderson (2007) Hope for nanotechnology: anticipatory knowledge and the
governance of affect Area 39.2,
156–165
Massumi,
B.
(2002) Parables
for the Virtual: Movement, Affect, Sensation London:
Duke University Press.
Mackenzie,
A.
(2002).
Transductions:
Bodies and machines at speed.
London: Continuum Press.
Graham
et al (1999)
'Relational concepts of space and place: Issues for planning theory
and practice', European
Planning Studies,
7:5, 623 – 646
Bissell D.
(2007) Comfortable bodies: sedentary affects. Environment
and Planning A
advance online publication
Markussen, T. (2006) Moving worlds:
The performativity of affective engagement Feminist
Theory, 7 (3), pp. 291-308.
Hillis K.
(1999) Digital
Sensations: Space, identity, and embodiment in virtual reality
University
of Minnesota Press
Melrose
S.
(2006) Bodies
Without Bodies in
Broadhurst
and Machon eds. Performance and Technology: Practices of Virtual
Embodiment and Interactivity. Palgrave Macmillan
Hansen,
M.B.N.
(2006) Bodies
in Code: Interfaces with digital media. Routledge
Greenhough B and Roe E 2006 Special issue: Towards a geography of
bodily biotechnologies Environment and Planning A 38 3
Selin C 2006 Time matters: temporal harmony and dissonance in
nanotechnology networks Time & Society 15 121–39
Adam B 2006 Futures told (http://www.cf.ac.uk/socsi/futures) Accessed
10 May 2006
Baxstrom R, Khan N, Poole D and Singh B 2005 Networks actual and
potential: think tanks, war games and the creation of contemporary
American politics Theory and Event 8 1–44
Bensaude-Vincent B 2006 Two cultures of nanotechnology? in Schummer J
and Baird D eds Nanotechnology challenges: implications for philosophy,
ethics and society World Scientific, Singapore
Berube D 2006 Nanohype Prometheus Books, London
Bloch E 1998 Can hope be disappointed? in Literary essays Joron A trans
Stanford University Press, Stanford CA 339–45
Connolly W 2002 Neuropolitics University of Minnesota Press, Minnesota
Isin I 2004 The neurotic citizen Citizenship Studies 8 217–35
Weber S 2005 Targets of opportunity: on the militarization ofthinking
Fordham University Press, New York
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