ABSTRACT
Non-representational theory (NRT) is an approach to understanding and exploring our everyday practices, described by one of its original proponents as ‘a geography of what happens’. NRT has not been used extensively in relation to festivals; nonetheless, there are elements of this approach that are useful in terms of unpacking the complex notions of inclusion and exclusion. One of the key elements of NRT, the embodied experience of practice, can be difficult to grasp, as it often relates not to a conscious experience of events, but rather to the affective component of ‘tacit’ or unspoken experiences. In order to try to address this complexity, this chapter considers questions of embodiment, emotion and affect, drawing on the concept of ‘affective political domains’. By focusing on the body, emotion and affect, we can come to different understandings of the way that people develop social networks and connections through attending and participating in festivals. In turn, these connections can influence notions of connection and belonging.
