Public sphere as assemblage: the cultural politics of roadside memorialization

Abstract

This paper investigates contemporary academic accounts of the public sphere. In particular, it takes stock of post-Habermasian public sphere scholarship, and acknowledges a lively and variegated debate concerning the multiple ways in which individuals engage in contemporary political affairs. A critical eye is cast over a range of key insights which have come to establish the parameters of what 'counts' as a/the public sphere, who can be involved, and where and how communicative networks are established. This opens up the conceptual space for re-imagining a/the public sphere as an assemblage. Making use of recent developments in Deleuzian-inspired assemblage theory - most especially drawn from DeLanda's (2006) 'new philosophy of society' - the paper sets out an alternative perspective on the notion of the public sphere, and regards it as a space of connectivity brought into being through a contingent and heterogeneous assemblage of discursive, visual and performative practices. This is mapped out with reference to the cultural politics of roadside memorialization. However, a/the public sphere as an assemblage is not simply a 'social construction' brought into being through a logic of connectivity, but is an emergent and ephemeral space which reflexively nurtures and assembles the cultural politics (and political cultures) of which it is an integral part. The discussion concludes, then, with a consideration of the contribution of assemblage theory to public sphere studies. (Also see Campbell 2009a).

Publics and their Problems: Notes on the Remaking of the South Bank, London

“…Brenner et al ., ), but rather alters our understanding of the key actors in a given public dispute. It can help to develop understanding of the way in which agency is distributed across and within networks (Sandover et al ., ), and highlight the capacity of non‐human actors to facilitate new lines of argumentation and engagement within disputes (Campbell, ). From this perspective publics not only form but also become effective when ‘they are “equipped” with the necessary sociotechnical devices’ (Farías, : 48).…”

Becoming Mum: Exploring the Emergence and Formulation of a Mother’s Identity During the Transition into Motherhood

“…using an ontogenetic framework underpinned by assemblage theory enables a focus on emergence and 'becoming', allowing for an exploration of how a new mother's identity is assembled and produced through a complex array of interactional and relational practices (Campbell, 2013;marcus & saka, 2006). assemblage thinking enables identity categories (such as being a mother, or wife) to be conceptualised as 'events, actions and encounters between bodies' as opposed to being 'simply entities and attributes of the subject' (puar, 2012).…”

“…assemblages are intrinsically varied and fluid, ever-changing with no constant, which is reflected in the concept that identities themselves are events; fleeting and ever-changing -a concept which lends itself well to exploring how a new identity emerges during an individual's transition into motherhood. While assemblage theory has not been used to understand small scale events such as the transition to motherhood its application on a larger scale within other fields of social sciences highlights both its value and potential (Campbell, 2013;mcFarlane, 2009;muminovic, 2015).…”

Policing paedophilia: Assembling bodies, spaces and things

“…Assemblage thinking has certainly gained wide currency across the social sciences, the arts and humanities, as well as within criminological work more broadly (Campbell, 2013;Gray, 2013;Haggerty and Ericson, 2000;Maurutto and Hannah-Moffat, 2006). Yet, it has a very marginal presence within policing studies, and is all but invisible from scholarship focused on pluralised policing forms.…”