Books in the Atmospheric Spaces series

Atmospheres are omnipresent and they are frequently used in everyday language. Yet, when do we perceive atmospheres and how can we explore them? The concept of atmosphere extends aesthetics to aisthesis and comprehends perception as a relation bound to the present and with regard to others. In this context, the astonishing atmosphere is identified as a watershed moment when the object of perception becomes the object of discourse. Surveying Benjamin¿s definitions of aura, one becomes aware of two modes of perception, which are crucial for the understanding of atmospheres. The ¿atmospheric portfolio¿, therefore, provides for the possibility to explore the particular features of the phenomenon. It is a collection of studies and research methods, which, on the one hand, reflects on the terms and concepts, and, which, on the other, allows for exemplary experiments of the empirical approaches to the phenomenon.

Socialization in childhood and at a young age is marked, not only by measurable factors such as age, sex, ethnic group, religion or parents¿ income, but also by variables such as depression, aggressiveness, inner calm or serenity. It makes all the difference whether a child experiences during their development an atmosphere of acceptance, gladness and emotional warmth, or one of depreciation, indifference and emotional coldness. The atmosphere in which a child is brought up shapes them as people, at least as much as the measurable factors of their social context. By discussing in detail how the atmosphere in the family, the kindergarten or at school can affect a child¿s well-being, this book calls for the importance of shaping such atmospheres so to produce a positive influence on children living and learning together.

What is an ¿Atmosphere¿? As part of the book series ¿Atmospheric Spaces¿, this volume analyses a new phenomenological and aesthetic paradigm based on the notion of the "Atmosphere", conceived as a feeling spread out into the external space rather than asa private mood. The idea of "Atmosphere" is here explored from different perspectives and disciplines, in the context of a full valorization of the so-called ¿affective turn¿ in Humanities.