Urban atmospheres.
Cultural geographies July 1, 2017 Matthew Gandy
This essay explores the concept of urban atmospheres, distinguishing them from other aspects of urban consciousness and experience. It examines the cultural, political, and philosophical implications of atmospheres as a lens for critical reflection on space and subjectivity. The author considers the idea of an 'affective atmosphere' as a shared corporeal mood, engaging with phenomenology, extended agency, and new materialism. Drawing on the changing qualities of air and light, the essay reflects on sensory experience and its cultural and political meanings. The argument highlights tensions and anomalies in contemporary understandings of urban atmospheres, proposing that they offer a valuable focal point for critical inquiry.