Spacing organization: non-representational theory and performing organizational space

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Authors

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.
Original languageEnglish
JournalOrganization
Volume19
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)45-61
Number of pages17
ISSN1350-5084
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

    Research areas

  • Digital media - affect, Bill Viola, enactment, non-representational Theory, organizational geography, performance, space, Lefebvre