TY - JOUR

T1 - Spacing organization

T2 - non-representational theory and performing organizational space

AU - Beyes, Timon

AU - Steyaert, Chris

PY - 2012/1

Y1 - 2012/1

N2 - This article connects to and extends the attempts to bring space back into critical organizational theory, which, we argue, has mainly been based on the socio-spatial perspective as pioneered by Henri Lefebvre. Taking issue with the various ways in which Lefebvre’s work can be interpreted, we develop an alternative route. Adopting a mode of non-representational theorizing as outlined in human geography, we propose the concept of ‘spacing’, which orients the understanding of organizational space towards its material, embodied, affective and minor configurations. In discussing the consequences of such a performative approach to space for the practice and craft of organizational scholarship, we argue that our conceptual opening entails a move from representational strategies of extracting representations of the (organizational) world from the world to embodied apprehensions of the everyday performing of organizational space. What can be termed the enactment of organizational geographies in slow motion is inspired and illustrated by the video ‘The Raft’ conceived by the artist Bill Viola.

AB - This article connects to and extends the attempts to bring space back into critical organizational theory, which, we argue, has mainly been based on the socio-spatial perspective as pioneered by Henri Lefebvre. Taking issue with the various ways in which Lefebvre’s work can be interpreted, we develop an alternative route. Adopting a mode of non-representational theorizing as outlined in human geography, we propose the concept of ‘spacing’, which orients the understanding of organizational space towards its material, embodied, affective and minor configurations. In discussing the consequences of such a performative approach to space for the practice and craft of organizational scholarship, we argue that our conceptual opening entails a move from representational strategies of extracting representations of the (organizational) world from the world to embodied apprehensions of the everyday performing of organizational space. What can be termed the enactment of organizational geographies in slow motion is inspired and illustrated by the video ‘The Raft’ conceived by the artist Bill Viola.

KW - Cultural studies

KW - Media and communication studies

KW - Transdisciplinary studies

KW - Digital media

KW - Digitale Kultur

KW - Digitale Kulturen

KW - Medienkultur

KW - Medienkulturen

KW - Medientheorie

KW - Medienwissenschaft

KW - Medienwissenschaften

KW - netzkultur

KW - neue Medien

KW - Soziale Medien

KW - digital Culture

KW - digital cultures

KW - media culture

KW - media cultures

KW - media studies

KW - media theory

KW - net culture

KW - new media

KW - social Media

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84855725731&origin=inward&txGid=0

U2 - 10.1177/1350508411401946

DO - 10.1177/1350508411401946

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 19

SP - 45

EP - 61

JO - Organization

JF - Organization

SN - 1461-7323

IS - 1

ER -