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Sociology: Henri Lefebvre and the Theory of the Production of Space - Theory Seminar
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:31:01
Abstract
This theory seminar discusses the new book on Henri Lefebvre by Christian Schmid. We will read and discuss a chapter of this book every week.
Objective
Participants will be expected to engage actively in: - reading, debating and discussing a scholarly text The goals of this course include: - acquiring new skills in reading and applying a theoretical text - strengthening ability to read, present and debate academic texts - getting familiar with one of the most important theories on space and the urban in social sciences
Content
On the occasion of the publication of the forthcoming book 'Henri Lefebvre and the Theory of the Production of Space' by Christian Schmid, we are organising a special seminar in the autumn semester 2022 in which we will read and discuss the book together. The book will be published by Verso in November 2022, and offers an encompassing, systematic, and accessible introduction to Lefebvre’s theory of space and the urban. We will provide pre-print copies of the individual chapters to the seminar participants.
Resources
Lecture Notes
On the book:Henri Lefebvre developed an extraordinarily and far-reaching spatio-temporal theory of society that is today widely applied in humanities and social sciences, particularly in urban studies, human geography, sociology, cultural anthropology, political sciences, philosophy, literature, cultural studies and the arts, and also in architecture, urban design and planning.This book provides the first systematic reconstruction of Lefebvre’s theory of the production of space. While many receptions represent Lefebvre’s work as a collection of inspiring but disparate thoughts and reflections, this book starts from the thesis of coherence, assuming that this work is distinguished by a continuity of concepts and categories that are connected in a consistent way. It reveals the epistemological context of this theory in French philosophy and in the German dialectic (Hegel, Marx, and Nietzsche), and explores the historical development of the core concepts. It illuminates Lefebvre’s understanding of everyday life, the right to the city, the thesis of the complete urbanization of society, and the intrinsic relationship between space and the state. It explains the famous double triad of the production of space: perceived, conceived and lived space – and spatial practice, representation of space and spaces of representation. And it develops a dialectical matrix of a theory of society, which is based on the core categories of spatio-temporal dimensions, levels, and configurations of social reality. It also gives an overview on the different Lefebvre receptions and discusses a wide range of applications of his concepts in various research fields.For further information see:Link
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Information
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Semesterly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Sociology: Henri Lefebvre and the Theory of the Production of Space - Theory Seminar
Does not take place this semester.
No course 25.10.2024 (seminar week) and in the last two semester weeks (final critiques).
|
No time listed | 2 h weekly |