Claudia Contreras Ambriz
Social Anthropology, University of Barcelona, Spain
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Published in: On the Move: ACSIS conference 11-13 June Norrköping; Sweden 2013
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 95:2, p. 15-19
Published: 2014-01-17
ISBN: 978-91-7519-563-6
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
By studying the dynamics of mobility we are able to make out the contours that are shaped by those who transit and occupy the city’s different places. Barcelona; a city known as a place of interchange and migrations; comes up as throbbing with the ever-changing pulse of the community; while the interactions of its agents as builders of spaces and atmospheres greatly rely on the fulfilment of its interests and needs. The starting point for the ethnographic research employed has been a theatrical methodology coupled with an anthropological perspective; a double strategy that allows us to centre on the co-existence of the different social sectors that make use of the common spaces – means of transport; city squares; ramblas; avenues; shops; gathering points. The main of our inquiries focuses on the expressions displayed by humans; animals; and operated machines; which generate environments by means of bodies; their contours; representations; and mobilities. To tackle the understanding of these environmental processes two perspectives are used: on the one hand; the theming of environments; on the other; social ambiances. From the tensions between individual and collective manifestations; between the static and the movable; the micro and the macro; this article centres on the creation of environments by setting out from an analysis of the mobilities currently taking place in this city’s public spaces.
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Electronic references
CONTRERAS; C. (2011). “Uses and Interactions: Barcelona’s Metro”; Current Issues in European Cultural Studies; June 15–17; Norrköping; Sweden 2011 http://www.ep.liu.se/ecp_article/index.en.aspx?issue=062;article=059 (accessed 10/03/2013)
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