(Movement): Session at the European Association for Urban History Conference: Cities in Motion 2020

Urban space is characterized by multiple overlapping spaces, created by the imaginations and use of space and complicated by the movement of different people and groups. Religion offers an interesting lens into this phenomenon, as it is as much a technique to mark out space by ritual usages, ephemeral or lasting sacralisations of space, as it is a cultural technique.

Urban space is characterized by multiple overlapping spaces, created by the imaginations and use of space and complicated by the movement of different people and groups. Religion offers an interesting lens into this phenomenon, as it is as much a technique to mark out space by ritual usages, ephemeral or lasting sacralisations of space, as it is a cultural technique to imagine and perform the transgression of concrete space with a view to divine addressees etc. Thus, its use of space is very different from other uses of spaces. Hence, it is conflicting or has the potential of being instrumentalised for different purposes.
The organisers particularly welcome case studies European, Mediterranean and Asian cities of all epochs on double or parallel uses and interpretation of space, especially when they are caused by religious groups.

A theoretical input on the concept of co-spatiality is also welcome. Paper proposals may further consider ...

  • Simultaneums of churches / simultaneous use of temples by different groups 
  • appropriation of urban space by religious migrants
  • processions
  • sacred places in present metropolises
  • architectural space and sacred metaphors
  • Spokesperson: Susanne Rau, University of Erfurt
  • Co-organizer(s): Michel Lussault, École normale supérieure de Lyon | Jörg Rüpke, University of Erfurt
  • Keywords: Urbanity | Urban religion | Appropriation of space
  • Time period: All periods
  • Topic(s): Cultural | Other
  • Study area: More than one continent