The working group “Public Emotions” discusses contemporary forms and activities of audiences and explores their changing roles in today’s mobile, mediatised and networked societies. Instead of reducing audiences to psychological categories, sociodemographic units, or individuals, we investigate the specific agency and collectivity of audiences. We focus on the role of affects and emotions in audiences – especially forms of affective collectivity. We are placing special emphasis on embodied audiences in social situations and beyond. With respect to diverse audiences in theatres, music shows or soccer games, their actions and behaviours become even more relevant. The working group discusses the relevance of embodied audiences, investigates forms of knowledge, sociality, belonging, identity, and difference created by audiences and questions their relations to the public sphere.

Coordination:

Hubert Knoblauch & Doris Kolesch