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P002


Micro-utopias: exploring connections in anthropology, relationality and creativity 
Convenors:
Ruy Blanes (University of Gothenburg)
Alex Ungprateeb Flynn (University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA))
Jonas Tinius (Saarland University (ERC Minor Universality))
Maïté Maskens (Université Libre de Bruxelles)
Location:
A126

Short Abstract:

In this panel we propose to discuss anthropological approaches - ethnographic or theoretical - to human interactions and processes of imagination and creativity, understood as "micro-utopias" following the work of Nicolas Bourriaud and others.

Long Abstract:

In this panel we propose to discuss anthropological approaches - ethnographic or theoretical - to human interactions and processes of imagination and creativity. Inspired by the proposals set forth by Bourriaud (1998) concerning art as a product of a relational aesthetics that is a 'microtopia', a product of communitarian association (or antagonism - see Bishop 2004) working to change the present, we challenge our colleagues to use an understanding of social movement and organization as an art form whereby processes of interaction are understood as generative, transformational, poïetic micro-utopias. We thus propose to move beyond the concrete sphere of artistic production, seeing micro-utopias as part of our morphogenetic élan vital (Bergson 1907), the creativity and improvisation of our unscripted everyday lives (Hallam and Ingold 2008) that is however and necessarily framed as political act produced within historical context (Geuss 2009). Our goal is thus to engage with micro-utopias as 'concrete utopias' (McGuire 2011): examples - from artistic collaborations to architectural configurations, political localisms, economic partnerships, religious community makings, etc. - of relationalities and temporal redefinitions.

Accepted papers:

Session 1