Project researcher in Figures of Touch research project 2009–2012. Funded by The Academy of Finland. (original) (raw)

Abstract

The research project “Figures of Touch” is an interdisciplinary project deploying epistemic interests of media studies, art research, aesthetics, philosophy, and medical anthropology. It addresses the relations between the arts, body and society in a new way by analysing the transformation of the cultural status of touching that cuts through multiple levels, e.g. due to ubiquitous computing. In terms of our research this shift constitutes a multifaceted research challenge with aesthetic, ethical and methodological aspects. Our approach will be guided by the ‘pathic’ moment of touching, by which we refer to touch as the sense of being exposed and affectable. From the normally ignored ‘pathic’ point of view, the sense of touch is relational, situational and inherently heterogeneous. It also exceeds the tactile order: to touch is always also to be touched, moved in the whole of one’s being. As a ‘pathic sense’ touch potentially subverts dichotomies, such as mind/body, theory/praxis, intelligible/sensible and thus challenges established regimes of knowledge and art forms. The ‘pathic’ orientation of our research enables significantly new and productive ways of cross relating the questions concerning sensuous, ethical, clinical and technological aspects of touching. Consequently, the project has great relevance in terms of its extensive implications well beyond its explicit topics. The research project investigates the sense of touch and the transformation of its significance in regard to the culturally established mind/body order and the institutional order of higher education. From the ‘pathic’ point of view these are essentially interrelated. In terms of actual research processes, the research consists of conceptual mapping of the ‘pathic’ sense of touch and of introducing, analyzing and demonstrating concrete figures of touching, such as sensuous difference, tactful art research, touch from a distance, and the untouchable. This is done on multiple levels in the contexts of media studies, philosophy, art research and medical anthropology. It is our objective to give a rich and legible image of the cultural significance of touch today.

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