240520 SE Anthropological Perspectives on Mobility, Space/Place and Time (P4) (2018W)

Mobility is a human condition. Contemporary mobility studies primarily treat mobility as a phenomenon of high modernity, while for the longest time of humans´ existence they have been on the move. We also have to consider the variations of the state of mobility among the variety of societies around the globe and the mobility-hypes in the age of globalisation. This seminar will investigate on the concept of 'multilocality' which allows to understand that in all forms of mobility there are moments of stasis and situatedness, and thus, of making and attachment to 'place'. Furthermore, 'time' is an intrinsic dimension to mobility in connection to stasis and situatedness. Place and time shape the understanding and practices of social and physical 'spaces'. Based on theoretical works and case studies we locate the term 'multilocality' into the broader discussions of place, space, time, mobility, transnational, and migration studies with a focus on Anthropology but also considering other disciplines like Geography.
Methods
Introduction to the theme in the first meeting. Close reading and group presentations of proposed texts. Group and plenary discussions. Writing of an individual seminar paper.
Aim
The students will be familiar with key readings in the field of mobility and multilocality studies considering the thematic fields of place, space and time.