1st Edition

Strange Spaces Explorations into Mediated Obscurity

By André Jansson, Amanda Lagerkvist Copyright 2009
    356 Pages
    by Routledge

    356 Pages
    by Routledge

    Certain bizarre spaces, where disruption or disarray rule, leave us estranged and 'out of place'. This book examines such spaces, highlighting the emotional and mediated geographies of uncertainty and the state of being 'in-between'; of cognitive displacement, loss, fear, or exhilaration. It expands on why space is sometimes estranging and for whom it is strange. It is the first book to link strangeness and spatial production, as well as empirical explorations of strange spaces within a profound theoretical discussion of 'what is strange about strange spaces' and how they evolve in a modern media age.

    Contents: What is strange about strange spaces?, André Jansson and Amanda Lagerkvist; Part 1 Scales of Opacity: Introduction to Part 1 André Jansson and Amanda Lagerkvist; Vague spaces, Phil Carney and Vincent Miller; Domesticated media: hiding, dying or haunting, Orvar Löfgren; The strange space of the body: 2 dialogues, Eva Ã…hrén and Michael Sappol; Obscure objects of media studies: echo, hotbird and ikonos, Lisa Parks. Part 2 Dislocation, Disruption, Disobedience: Introduction to Part 2, André Jansson and Amanda Lagerkvist; Beside myself with looking: the provincial, female spectator as out of place at the Stockholm exhibition 1897, Ylva Habel; La villa rouge: replaying decadence in Shanghai, Amanda Lagerkvist; Cities of sin, backroads of crime, Will Straw; Walks in spectral space: East London crime scene tourism, Chris Wilbert and Rikke Hansen; The soul of the city: heritage architecture, vandalism and the new Bath spa, Cynthia Imogen Hammond. Part 3 Secrets and Wonders of Media Spaces: Introduction to Part 3, André Jansson and Amanda Lagerkvist; Death at Broadcasting House, Staffan Ericson; Communication clinics: Expo 67 and the symbolic power of fixing flows, André Jansson; Modern moon rising: imagining aerospace in early picture postcards, Johanne Sloan; Strange exhibitions: museums and art galleries in film, Steven Jacobs; Hiding in plain sight: cinematic undergrounds, David L. Pike; Indexes.

    Biography

    André Jansson is Professor of Media and Communication Studies at Karlstad University, Sweden. Amanda Lagerkvist is a Research Fellow at the Swedish Institute for North American Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden.

    'The order of space is always at odds with myths of social order. In this courageous book, an interdisciplinary range of authors formulate a richer language for understanding the culture of space and the space of culture. This important contribution to communication studies and cultural geography should be widely read.' Nick Couldry, University of London, UK 'Strange Spaces splendidly shows why and for whom specfic places and situations can be alienating. It is essential reading for those concerned with making and understanding inclusive public places and urban developments.' Rob Shields, University of Alberta, Canada