ABSTRACT

In recent years, research in the social sciences and cultural studies has increasingly paid attention to the generative power of emotions and affects; that is, to the questions of how far they shape social and cultural processes while being simultaneously shaped by them. However, the literature on the methodological implications of researching affects and emotions remains rather limited.

As a collective outcome of the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) Affective Societies at Freie Universität Berlin, Analyzing Affective Societies introduces procedures and methodologies applied by researchers of the CRC for investigating societies as affective societies. Presenting scholarly research practices by means of concrete examples and case studies, the book does not contain any conclusive methodological advice, but rather engages in illustrative descriptions of the authors’ research practices.

Analyzing Affective Societies unveils different research approaches, procedures and practices of a variety of disciplines from the humanities, arts and social sciences. It will appeal to students and researchers interested in fields such as Qualitative Research Methods, Emotions, Affect, Cultural Studies and Social Sciences.

chapter 1|26 pages

Introduction

Analyzing affective societies

chapter 2|16 pages

Concepts as methodology

A plea for arrangement thinking in the study of affect

part I|56 pages

Textualities

chapter 3|18 pages

Reading for affect

A methodological proposal for analyzing affective dynamics in discourse

chapter 4|15 pages

Interviews as situated affective encounters

A relational and processual approach for empirical research on affect, emotion and politics

chapter 5|21 pages

Narrating visualized feelings

Photovoice as a tool for researching affects and emotions among school students

part III|65 pages

Performativities

chapter 11|15 pages

The ethnography of affect in discourse practice

Performing sentiment in the time machine

chapter 12|16 pages

Affective dynamics in the theatre

Towards a relational and poly-perspectival performance analysis

chapter 13|16 pages

Shared and divided feelings in translingual texts of Emine Sevgi Özdamar

Performativity and affective relationality of language, writing and belonging

part IV|66 pages

Reflexivities

chapter 14|16 pages

Researching affects in the clinic and beyond

Multi-perspectivity, ethnography, and mental health-care intervention

chapter 15|14 pages

‘All Eyes Closed’

Dis/sensing in comparative fieldwork on affective-religious experiences