Join us at this week's meeting of the Philosophy Club, virtually or in-person (Auerbach 320), on Wednesday, April 29 from 1 p.m.—2 p.m. as University professor of Architecture Somaye Seddighikhavidak presents a key theme of her research, the mythopoietics of space.
Playing off Gaston Bachelard’s notion of the Poetics of Space (1958.), The mythopoietics of space rethinks the presence of improvisational space in relationship with human beings going back to pastoral or nomadic times by analyzing improvisational space as the domain of forces that spontaneously generate transitional spaces: impromptu spaces that go beyond fixed limits toward uncertainty, instability, and indeterminacy. Dr. Seddighikhavidak argues that, although often ignored, architectural space organizes the world thus mythopoietically: that is, conceiving of developed space not merely as organized three-dimensionally by length, breadth, and depth, but also in dynamic dialog with notions from traditional folklore and poetic expression, yielding or embodying uncertainty, instability, and indeterminacy along improvisational, autopoietic, and mythological lines to result in architectural design.
Dr. Seddighikhavidak makes her case by exploring the mythopoietics of Persian architectural spaces through myth and poetry found in Persian philosophy. In order to elucidate a form of architectural space as autopoietic, improvisational and mythological space, I turn to the theoretical discussion of nomadism as a source of such a thought in both Persian mythologies and the works of French philosopher Gilles Deleuze (1925-1995) and French psychoanalyst Félix Guattari (1930-1992).
Deleuze’s concept of nomadism as a theoretical ground gives way to the actualization of architectural spaces in numerous forms of improvisation and/or autopoiesis. This process, according to Deleuze, comes through territorialization, deterritorialization, and reterritorialization (TDR). In-between and liminal spaces are the result of the intersection of TDR. In this research, I argue that evidence of TDR can be clearly seen in Persian architectural spaces, which derive more from the nomadic Pre-Islamic tradition than from the sedentism of permanent Islamic settlements. Additionally, based on theoretical and historical considerations of Deleuze’s notion of nomadism, I show through case studies how Persian architectural spaces both challenge indeterminate boundaries to their surrounding territories and offer an alternative approach within buildings: the liminality within space rather than its relation with exterior space.
Somaye Seddighikhavidak is an assistant professor of architecture. She earned her doctorate in architecture from Texas A&M University. Her experience in integrating digital technologies within architectural design studios is coupled with her expertise in spatial design and parametricism. She is teaching design studios integrated with digital technology, and computational design for undergraduate students. Complete work cited.
The University of Hartford Philosophy Club has an informal, jovial atmosphere. It is a place where students, professors, and people from the community at large meet as peers. Sometimes presentations are given, followed by discussion. Other times, topics are hashed out by the whole group. Presenters may be students, professors, or people from the community. Anyone can offer to present a topic. The mode of presentation may be as formal or informal as the presenter chooses. Come and go as you wish. Bring friends. Suggest topics and activities. Take over the club! It belongs to you! Just show up!
Questions? Contact Brian Shelly at bskelly@hartford.edu; 413.273.2273.