The affective turn is nothing more than a shift in thinking present in culture - a recognition of the importance of the category of affect and an interest in its manifestations in science. The new perspective emphasises research in terms of affectivity, i.e. the human capacity to elicit and receive stimuli.
How do we experience these stimuli?
They are manifested by signs on the body even before the emotion is realised or worked through. Specific somatic symptoms such as goosebumps, shivers, trembling hands are signs of affect. From this perspective, we can speak of its affect being tangible and happening in the body, as seen on our skin.
Unconscious sensations
Affections, or pre-emotions or praemotions, frame our experience of the world, often uncontrolled, subjective and unconscious. This determines the subsequent emotion or action. They thus inform the affective activity of texts, images, performances, music and other spaces of being in the world in general.
Cultural affect
The affective turn was initiated in the 1990s and we can see that it is strongly influencing contemporary humanities, although we will be particularly interested in the impact of valued affect on culture more broadly..
Extraordinary concert
On the occasion of the 5th Birthday of the Center of Science and Senses WOMAI, a “Concert in total darkness”took place. Numerous visitors experienced live music created by blind staff in lights out.
Carnal affect at the concert
From the perspective of interest in affect, the concert gave voice back to the corporeal experience of affect. Chills ran through the audience (as we found out later) and tears of emotion appeared. Before those present were able to name the emotions they felt in contact with the works of the blind workers, there was a somatic experience of affects precisely.
Extra-visual experience of music
Paradoxically, the reception of visual stimuli enabled a broader experience involving not only the extraordinary artistic quality of the performance but also a deeper reflection: on how blind people experience the world and how they pursue their musical passions despite obstacles. For sighted people, it’s an affectively awakening experience that can contribute to an appreciation of non-visual reality.
If you are interested in the article and the concert in total darkness, we encourage you to keep an eye on Womai's website and social media profile. There you will find information about upcoming concerts.
Author: Karina Jurewicz
English (UK) 
Polski 