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Papers by Michael Anranter
In this paper, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork (participant observation) carried out at a Bulgar... more In this paper, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork (participant observation) carried out at a Bulgarian service area to argue that such spaces create a ‘meaningful soci-ality’ building on imagination and sensual experience, as well as on experiences of intersectional oppression or dominance. I draw on the history and adaptations of shkembeto (tripe soup) and my observations of its preparation and serving at one such service area. This soup, which is famous in Turkey and Bulgaria, offers some people disorienting sensory experiences that are associated with complex power relations, which makes the service area a site for reflection on discrimina-tion and gender roles. The paper closes with reflections on the sociality of such places, which is ephemeral but meaningful both there and at home.
Based on participant observation at a motorway service area in Vidin (Bulgaria), this paper inves... more Based on participant observation at a motorway service area in Vidin
(Bulgaria), this paper investigates dissociations caused by COVID-19 in the context of transport-related infrastructure. Building on approaches from the anthropology of the environment and of infrastructure, as well as from the anthropology of disasters, crises, and catastrophes, it depicts how relations between people and between people and materials changed in the early stages of the pandemic. The paper concludes with a description of mechanisms and strategies causing and overcoming dissociation within the context of modern, function-oriented infrastructures.
Der Donauraum, 2016
Since the fall of the iron curtain, countries, regions and cities allocated along the Danube Rive... more Since the fall of the iron curtain, countries, regions and cities allocated along the Danube River became attractive for tourism from European and International destinations. This is indicated by strong relations between members of Eastern and Western European societies, and evidenced by growing numbers in the numbers of overnight stays. Grown up in a region where sometimes over-exploitation and exclusionary concepts for city management could be witnessed, in this article I discuss the potential of discontinuities and cleavages that result from an open-interpretation round based on pictures relating to the Danube. This article is an invitation to discuss tourism development according to the desires of selected citizens that come from small and medium-size cities along the Danube. While Belgrade, Bratislava, and Budapest opened up for mass-tourism, tourism – if sustainable – might be a destination for smaller cities embed in this particular and unique geographies in Europe.
Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies, 2017
Abstract: European cities respond to demands arising from the global standpoint competition, supp... more Abstract: European cities respond to demands arising from the global standpoint competition, supporting progress and development according to a profit-oriented ideal. Neoliberal policies and large-scale urban restructuring projects are common tools aimed to create safe cities for a shopping society. But even though persistent power relations seem to dominate the struggle for space and place in European cities, the outcome of large-scale interventions remain unpredictable.Too many people with conflicting interests take part in the daily hustle of urban societies sharing a common space. In the course of a two-month fieldwork focusing on asylum seekers, it became clear that memories, basic needs, and future perspectives were associated with specific places and became relevant for undertakings to (physically) re-shape and re-design places. This paper shows how asylum seekers with outstanding transnational experience but limited local knowledge about Bolzano (Italy) establish relations with specific places and develop tactics opposing governmental place-making ambitions. It outlines the separation between asylum seeker’s place-making tactics and local elites’ place-making strategies and aims for new opportunities for urban development.
The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, 2015
Book chapters by Michael Anranter
Book on the Unexplored Cultural Heritage in Communities by the Danube, 2019
THE TURN المنعرج presents artistic interventions that emerged in the wake of the Arab Revolution.... more THE TURN المنعرج presents artistic interventions that emerged in the wake of the Arab Revolution. They are committed to collaborative action and direct engagement in relation to the prevailing social climate. They are ambitious art projects that aim to have a transformative impact on society and envision – together with the citizens of Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Syria – scenarios and solutions for a better future.
Call for Papers by Michael Anranter
Mobility Humanities Special Issue (for publication July 2024) Every day, millions of people mo... more Mobility Humanities Special Issue (for publication July 2024)
Every day, millions of people move in our globalised world: Amongst them are migrants and refugees, mobile workers in transport logistics, tourists, animal-breeding, and digital nomads. They all obviously do also stop on their routes. But what exactly happens in these situations? And how do people experience these standstills in a life characterised by mobility? In the context of the well-established theories explaining society and human life in (post-)modernity through concepts of flow, the purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight the moments when moving is put on hold. Thanks to this focus, we suggest moving beyond views on mobile dwelling as shaped by experiences of liminality between places of residence and reimagine stopovers as the liminal breaks of normalised mobilities, often entangled with experiences of violence.
We are looking for creative, full-size papers (max. 8,000 words) but will also consider shorter contributions. The topic of the articles should broadly relate to situations of immobility in relation to transport infrastructure. Still, there is no necessity to cover all three abovementioned themes. We invite researchers from all disciplines to present proposals while prioritising empirics over theory. If you are interested in submitting a paper, please email your proposal (300 words max.) to the Guest Editors, Michael Anranter and Manuel Moser, who will be responsible for selecting which papers to include.
Contact details: michael.anranter@univie.ac.at; manuel.moser@uni-erfurt.de
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: April 1st 2023
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES (for peer-review): September 1st 2023
Conference Presentations by Michael Anranter
Common cultural heritage moments and places are present in the Danube region, partly based on mat... more Common cultural heritage moments and places are present in the Danube region, partly based on material river elements, like water and stones, partly based on social and cultural practices like cooking and storytelling. The DANUrB project discovers, reveals and maps the underused cultural heritage and resources as well as living cultural traditions in regions near the Danube, thereby strengthening the Danube regional cultural identity and creating a common brand. By exploring the unused or hidden cultural and social capital, it fosters transnational cultural ties between settlements along the Danube and creates socioeconomic return. The paper 'Seasoned Tales – Cultural Heritage Moments along the Danube River " selects practices which expose personal belonging to places nearby the river suitable to redefine the regions unique selling proposition. With the methods of participatory photo interview and participatory observation, the research team collected photographs, narratives and situational knowledge from people living in Danube villages and towns. It turns out that national and religious identities, local sportive activities like fishing, and food production are bonds and basic elements strengthening specific traditional practices dependent on the availability for places in the Danube region and space. Results show two dimensions influencing the present cultural heritage activities: firstly the river is still connecting and knitting together the regions since it establishes a specific common social and cultural setting. Secondly the meanings attributed to natural and material elements, like stone, water and places nearby the river forms social, cultural and historical incidents. Considering the results of both dimensions shows a unique, at the same time common cultural heritage present in religious faith, environmental care and a great attitude towards hospitality expressed through food and in fairy tales that might be exploited by the tourism industry to permit for a greater socioeconomic return.
MA Thesis by Michael Anranter
This thesis deals with place-making tactics of asylum seekers in the city of Bolzano. What makes ... more This thesis deals with place-making tactics of asylum seekers in the city of Bolzano. What makes the situation unique is the regions long-term socio-economic performance, peaceful conviviality of a bilingual society and a history greatly influenced by struggles for and against identities and their correlated marginalization. Only since the 90's have new dimensions been added to the South Tyrolean demographic realm. Tourists and businessmen were no longer the only foreigners, and people from different countries migrated and decided to stay. This thesis shows how people with limited knowledge about a specific environment build up a relationship supported by the use of public parks, the railway station or the city library. Most importantly, public structures impact asylum seekers; daily lives – not only because of memories and future perspectives, but also because of basic needs that can be satisfied at these places. European cities such as Bolzano feel economic pressure ...
In this paper, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork (participant observation) carried out at a Bulgar... more In this paper, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork (participant observation) carried out at a Bulgarian service area to argue that such spaces create a ‘meaningful soci-ality’ building on imagination and sensual experience, as well as on experiences of intersectional oppression or dominance. I draw on the history and adaptations of shkembeto (tripe soup) and my observations of its preparation and serving at one such service area. This soup, which is famous in Turkey and Bulgaria, offers some people disorienting sensory experiences that are associated with complex power relations, which makes the service area a site for reflection on discrimina-tion and gender roles. The paper closes with reflections on the sociality of such places, which is ephemeral but meaningful both there and at home.
Based on participant observation at a motorway service area in Vidin (Bulgaria), this paper inves... more Based on participant observation at a motorway service area in Vidin
(Bulgaria), this paper investigates dissociations caused by COVID-19 in the context of transport-related infrastructure. Building on approaches from the anthropology of the environment and of infrastructure, as well as from the anthropology of disasters, crises, and catastrophes, it depicts how relations between people and between people and materials changed in the early stages of the pandemic. The paper concludes with a description of mechanisms and strategies causing and overcoming dissociation within the context of modern, function-oriented infrastructures.
Der Donauraum, 2016
Since the fall of the iron curtain, countries, regions and cities allocated along the Danube Rive... more Since the fall of the iron curtain, countries, regions and cities allocated along the Danube River became attractive for tourism from European and International destinations. This is indicated by strong relations between members of Eastern and Western European societies, and evidenced by growing numbers in the numbers of overnight stays. Grown up in a region where sometimes over-exploitation and exclusionary concepts for city management could be witnessed, in this article I discuss the potential of discontinuities and cleavages that result from an open-interpretation round based on pictures relating to the Danube. This article is an invitation to discuss tourism development according to the desires of selected citizens that come from small and medium-size cities along the Danube. While Belgrade, Bratislava, and Budapest opened up for mass-tourism, tourism – if sustainable – might be a destination for smaller cities embed in this particular and unique geographies in Europe.
Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies, 2017
Abstract: European cities respond to demands arising from the global standpoint competition, supp... more Abstract: European cities respond to demands arising from the global standpoint competition, supporting progress and development according to a profit-oriented ideal. Neoliberal policies and large-scale urban restructuring projects are common tools aimed to create safe cities for a shopping society. But even though persistent power relations seem to dominate the struggle for space and place in European cities, the outcome of large-scale interventions remain unpredictable.Too many people with conflicting interests take part in the daily hustle of urban societies sharing a common space. In the course of a two-month fieldwork focusing on asylum seekers, it became clear that memories, basic needs, and future perspectives were associated with specific places and became relevant for undertakings to (physically) re-shape and re-design places. This paper shows how asylum seekers with outstanding transnational experience but limited local knowledge about Bolzano (Italy) establish relations with specific places and develop tactics opposing governmental place-making ambitions. It outlines the separation between asylum seeker’s place-making tactics and local elites’ place-making strategies and aims for new opportunities for urban development.
The International Journal of Social, Political and Community Agendas in the Arts, 2015
Book on the Unexplored Cultural Heritage in Communities by the Danube, 2019
THE TURN المنعرج presents artistic interventions that emerged in the wake of the Arab Revolution.... more THE TURN المنعرج presents artistic interventions that emerged in the wake of the Arab Revolution. They are committed to collaborative action and direct engagement in relation to the prevailing social climate. They are ambitious art projects that aim to have a transformative impact on society and envision – together with the citizens of Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Syria – scenarios and solutions for a better future.
Mobility Humanities Special Issue (for publication July 2024) Every day, millions of people mo... more Mobility Humanities Special Issue (for publication July 2024)
Every day, millions of people move in our globalised world: Amongst them are migrants and refugees, mobile workers in transport logistics, tourists, animal-breeding, and digital nomads. They all obviously do also stop on their routes. But what exactly happens in these situations? And how do people experience these standstills in a life characterised by mobility? In the context of the well-established theories explaining society and human life in (post-)modernity through concepts of flow, the purpose of this Special Issue is to highlight the moments when moving is put on hold. Thanks to this focus, we suggest moving beyond views on mobile dwelling as shaped by experiences of liminality between places of residence and reimagine stopovers as the liminal breaks of normalised mobilities, often entangled with experiences of violence.
We are looking for creative, full-size papers (max. 8,000 words) but will also consider shorter contributions. The topic of the articles should broadly relate to situations of immobility in relation to transport infrastructure. Still, there is no necessity to cover all three abovementioned themes. We invite researchers from all disciplines to present proposals while prioritising empirics over theory. If you are interested in submitting a paper, please email your proposal (300 words max.) to the Guest Editors, Michael Anranter and Manuel Moser, who will be responsible for selecting which papers to include.
Contact details: michael.anranter@univie.ac.at; manuel.moser@uni-erfurt.de
DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: April 1st 2023
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES (for peer-review): September 1st 2023
Common cultural heritage moments and places are present in the Danube region, partly based on mat... more Common cultural heritage moments and places are present in the Danube region, partly based on material river elements, like water and stones, partly based on social and cultural practices like cooking and storytelling. The DANUrB project discovers, reveals and maps the underused cultural heritage and resources as well as living cultural traditions in regions near the Danube, thereby strengthening the Danube regional cultural identity and creating a common brand. By exploring the unused or hidden cultural and social capital, it fosters transnational cultural ties between settlements along the Danube and creates socioeconomic return. The paper 'Seasoned Tales – Cultural Heritage Moments along the Danube River " selects practices which expose personal belonging to places nearby the river suitable to redefine the regions unique selling proposition. With the methods of participatory photo interview and participatory observation, the research team collected photographs, narratives and situational knowledge from people living in Danube villages and towns. It turns out that national and religious identities, local sportive activities like fishing, and food production are bonds and basic elements strengthening specific traditional practices dependent on the availability for places in the Danube region and space. Results show two dimensions influencing the present cultural heritage activities: firstly the river is still connecting and knitting together the regions since it establishes a specific common social and cultural setting. Secondly the meanings attributed to natural and material elements, like stone, water and places nearby the river forms social, cultural and historical incidents. Considering the results of both dimensions shows a unique, at the same time common cultural heritage present in religious faith, environmental care and a great attitude towards hospitality expressed through food and in fairy tales that might be exploited by the tourism industry to permit for a greater socioeconomic return.
This thesis deals with place-making tactics of asylum seekers in the city of Bolzano. What makes ... more This thesis deals with place-making tactics of asylum seekers in the city of Bolzano. What makes the situation unique is the regions long-term socio-economic performance, peaceful conviviality of a bilingual society and a history greatly influenced by struggles for and against identities and their correlated marginalization. Only since the 90's have new dimensions been added to the South Tyrolean demographic realm. Tourists and businessmen were no longer the only foreigners, and people from different countries migrated and decided to stay. This thesis shows how people with limited knowledge about a specific environment build up a relationship supported by the use of public parks, the railway station or the city library. Most importantly, public structures impact asylum seekers; daily lives – not only because of memories and future perspectives, but also because of basic needs that can be satisfied at these places. European cities such as Bolzano feel economic pressure ...