Call for Papers: Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, Los
Angeles, April 9-13 2013
LUDIC GEOGRAPHIES
Organisers:
Tara Woodyer (University of Portsmouth)
Jason Dittmer (University College London)
This session invites geographers to consider the ludic as more than
child’s play. It is a fundamental part of human experience across the
lifecourse. Though often undervalued, it is broader and more complex
than common associations allow.
Geographers, among others, have recently turned to play in their studies
of the workplace, urban practice, consumption, public protest and
geopolitics. It is present too in recent moves towards affirmative modes
of critique, more-than-rational ways of working, and experimentation
with creative styles of writing. Throughout this work there is a growing
appreciation that the ludic is a significant geographical concern in and
of itself.
Ludic Geographies draws together research that examines the relation of
play to the everyday and to rationality. It aims to open up the ethical
potential of play for academic analysis, creative experiment and
political practice. The session notably resists a metaphysical
positioning of play as in opposition to seriousness, morality and
productive work, and their attendant social relations. Rather, in
encouraging the geographical aspects of play alongside the playful
aspects of geography, we would welcome papers that approach the ludic
from diverse disciplinary, theoretical and methodological positions.
Themes may include, but are not limited to:
• Playful approaches to well being
• Playful approaches to environmental thinking and action
• States of play: geopolitics, securitisation, war gaming
• Digital and networked play
• The place of the ludic in anticipatory and utopian thought
• The relation of the senses and/or vitality to play
• Psychoanalysis and play
• Toys and transitional objects
• The role of the ludic in cultivating modes of ethical generosity
and/or responsiveness
• Experimentation with rules, roles and meaning
• The philosophical kinship of play and critique
• Play as a form of political praxis
• Playful research practices
•Engagements with the irrational/more-than-rational
Please send abstracts of no more than 250 words to Tara Woodyer
([log in to unmask]) and Jason Dittmer ([log in to unmask]) by 5th
October 2012.
Dr Tara Woodyer
Lecturer in Human Geography
Department of Geography
University of Portsmouth
Buckingham Building
Lion Terrace
Portsmouth
PO1 3HE
Tel. 023 9284 2510
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