Geographien zwischen Diskurs und Praxis -Mit Wittgenstein Anknüpfungspunkte von Diskurs-und Praxistheorie Denken

Abstract

Current discussions about a practice turn in human geography raise questions about whether discourse analytical approaches are focusing too strongly on symbolic representations. However, practice-theoretical conceptions privilege the analysis of everyday practices, discussing issues of embodiment and materiality. Following the considerations of Ludwig Wittgenstein, we assume certain connections between these two fields of study and explore the links between discourse and practice theory by employing the Wittgensteinian concepts of language-games and rule-following. Focussing on the discourse theory of Laclau and Mouffe and the practice theory of Schatzki, we show to what extend both theories are informed by Wittgenstein’s work and can be seen as different types of language-games analyses. We highlight the similarities and discuss the differences in the basic interests of these theories. Finally, we introduce an integrative “Wittgensteinian approach” that is illustrated by two empirical examples of geographical inquiry -practices of a new rurality and rap-music in stigmatized banlieus. © Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed.