Non-representational theory

Non-representational theory

Non-representational theory is a theory developed in human geography, largely through the work of Nigel Thrift (Warwick University)[1][2], and his colleagues such as J.D. Dewsbury (University of Bristol). It challenges those using social theory and conducting geographical research to go beyond representation.[3] Thus, Dewsbury describes practices of "witnessing" that produce "knowledge without contemplation".[4]

Instead of studying and representing social relationships, non-representational theory focuses upon practices – how human and nonhuman formations are enacted or performed – not simply on what is produced [5]. This is a post-structuralist theory drawing in part from the works of Michel Foucault, Maurice Merleau-Ponty and phenomenonologists such as Martin Heidegger [6], but also weaving in the perspectives of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, Bruno Latour and Michel Serres, and more recently from political science (including ideas developed in radical democracy) and anthropological discussions of the material dimensions of human life. Non-representational theory's focus upon hybrid formations parallels the conception of "hybrid geographies" developed by Sarah Whatmore.[7]

Others have suggested that Thrift's use of the term "non-representational theory" is problematic, and that other non-representational theories could be developed. Richard G Smith suggests that Baudrillard's work could be considered a "non-representational theory", for example [6] which has fostered some debate. In 2005, Hayden Lorimer (Glasgow University) suggested the term "more-than-representational" as preferable.[8]

References

  1. ^ Thrift N 2000. “Non-representational theory” in RJ Johnston, D Gregory, G Pratt and M Watts (eds) The Dictionary of Human Geography (Blackwell, Oxford)
  2. ^ Thrift N, 2007. "Non-representational theory: Space, Politics, Affect" (Routledge, London)
  3. ^ Thrift, Nigel; 1996; Spatial Formations ; Sage
  4. ^ Dewsbury, J.D. 2003; Witnessing space: `knowledge without contemplation' Environment and Planning A 2003, volume 35, pp. 1907–1932
  5. ^ Thrift, Nigel; 1997; 'The still point: expressive embodiment and dance', in Pile, S and Keith, M (eds.), Geographies of Resistance; (Routledge) pp 124–151
  6. ^ a b Smith, Richard G.; 2003; 'Baudrillard's nonrepresentational theory: burn the signs and journey without maps' in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 21; pp 67–84
  7. ^ Whatmore, S. 2002. Hybrid Geographies; (Sage)
  8. ^ Lorimer, H. 2005; 'Cultural geography: the busyness of being ‘more-than-representational’' Progress in Human Geography 29, 1 (2005) pp. 83–94

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Theory of mind — is the ability to attribute mental states beliefs, intents, desires, pretending, knowledge, etc. to oneself and others and to understand that others have beliefs, desires and intentions that are different from one s own.[1] Though there are… …   Wikipedia

  • Theory of conjoint measurement — The theory of conjoint measurement (also known as conjoint measurement or additive conjoint measurement) is a general, formal theory of continuous quantity. It was independently discovered by the French economist Gerard Debreu (1960) and by the… …   Wikipedia

  • Critical theory — Horkheimer, Adorno, Habermas David Rasmussen HEGEL, MARX AND THE IDEA OF A CRITICAL THEORY Critical theory1 is a metaphor for a certain kind of theoretical orientation which owes its origin to Hegel and Marx, its systematization to Horkheimer and …   History of philosophy

  • Culture theory — This article is about culture. For Cultural Theory, see Cultural Theory of risk. Culture theory is the branch of anthropology and semiotics (not to be confused with cultural sociology or cultural studies) that seeks to define the heuristic… …   Wikipedia

  • Representational systems (NLP) — NLP TOPICS   …   Wikipedia

  • Computational theory of mind — In philosophy, the computational theory of mind is the view that the human mind is an information processing system and that thinking is a form of computing. The theory was proposed in its modern form by Hilary Putnam in 1961[citation needed] and …   Wikipedia

  • Common coding theory — is a cognitive psychology theory describing how perceptual representations (e.g. of things we can see and hear) and motor representations (e.g. of hand actions) are linked. The theory claims that there is a shared representation (a common code)… …   Wikipedia

  • Presentational acting and Representational acting — and criticism. Thanks to a highly idiosyncratic use by a particular strand of acting theory, however, the terms have come to acquire often overtly contradictory senses.This assertion may be demonstrated by even the most cursory search of the web… …   Wikipedia

  • Constructivism (learning theory) — Jean Piaget: founder of Constructivism Constructivism is a theory of knowledge (epistemology)[1] that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas. During infancy, it was an… …   Wikipedia

  • Meaning–text theory — (MTT) is a theoretical linguistic framework, first put forward in Moscow by Aleksandr Žolkovskij and Igor Mel’čuk,[1] for the construction of models of natural language. The theory provides a large and elaborate basis for linguistic description… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”