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Digital place atmospheres: architecture, digital visualisation practices and the experience economy

Dates:12 March 2014
Times:14:00 - 17:00
What is it:Workshop
Organiser:Manchester Urban Institute
Who is it for:Current University students, University staff
Speaker:Professor Monica Degen
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  • Sociology

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  • In category "Workshop"
  • In group "(SEED) Architecture"
  • In group "(ALC) Art History and Visual Studies"
  • By Manchester Urban Institute

Cities@Manchester and the department of Sociology present these events as part of the 50 years of Sociology at Manchester initiative 2014.

TALK: "Sensory Cities", 2-3pm WORKSHOP: Visualisation, 3.15-5pm

Computer generated images have become the common means for architects and developers to visualise and market future urban developments. This talk examines within the context of the experience economy how these digital images aim to evoke and manipulate specific place atmospheres to emphasize the experiential qualities of new buildings and urban environments. In particular, we argue, that CGIs are far from ‘just’ glossy representations but a new form of visualising the urban that allows us to capture and market in photorealistic terms particular embodied sensations. Drawing on a two year qualitative study of architects’ practices we argue that digital technology allows for the elusive notion of place atmospheres to become a commercially manufactured product. Such development has two key implications. Firstly, we demonstrate the importance of digital technologies in framing the ‘expressive infrastructure’ (Thrift 2012) of the experience economy. Secondly, we show that these atmospheres are “based on a Westnocentric literary and sensory palette” (Tolia-Kelly 2006) that highlights the continuing influence of colonial sensibilities in supposedly postcolonial, urban processes.

Speaker

Professor Monica Degen

Organisation: Brunel University

  • http://www.brunel.ac.uk/sss/sociology/staff-profiles/monica-degen

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G107
Alan Turing Building
Manchester

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Dr Paul Simpson (Sociology)

0161 306 6881

paul.simpson-2@manchester.ac.uk

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