TY - JOUR

T1 - Spacing organization: non-representational theory and performing organizational space

AU - Beyes, Timon

AU - Steyaert, Chris

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

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 - Digital media

KW - affect

KW - Bill Viola

KW - enactment

KW - non-representational Theory

KW - organizational geography

KW - performance

KW - space

KW - Lefebvre

UR - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1350508411401946

U2 - 10.1177%2F1350508411401946

DO - 10.1177%2F1350508411401946

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 19

SP - 45

EP - 61

JO - Organization

JF - Organization

SN - 1350-5084

IS - 1

ER -