LUDIC GEOGRAPHIES
RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2012, 3rd-5th July, Edinburgh
Sponsored by the Social and Cultural Geography Research Group
Organisers: Tara Woodyer (Exeter); Fraser MacDonald (Edinburgh)
This session invites geographers to consider the ludic as more than childs 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, securitization, 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
Papers on other related topics are also welcome. Please also circulate this CFP to other interested parties.
Please send titles, abstracts of no more than 200 words, names and email addresses of any co-authors, as well as any special a/v requests to Tara at [log in to unmask] and Fraser at [log in to unmask] by Friday, 20th January 2012.
We would like to draw your attention to the following presenter guidelines outlined by the RGS: An individual may not normally make more than two substantive contributions to the conference programme. A substantive contribution includes: paper or poster presentation (of any length); panel member; discussant or any session contribution of another kind.
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