Transitional Phenomena and Cultural Experience (T-PACE)

Transitional Phenomena and Cultural Experience (T-PACE)

Transitional Phenomena and Cultural Experience (T-PACE) began with a programme of research undertaken by Professor Annette Kuhn (School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, Queen Mary, University of London) during a period of AHRC study leave. One of the outcomes of this was the formation of an informal study group. With some changes in membership, the group has been meeting and corresponding since 2006. From this process, key areas for further research have been identified, and these form the basis of the current inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, inquiry, which was funded between March 2008 and February 2010 by a British Academy Small Research Grant.

T-PACE’s aim is to develop and revitalise cultural theory, methodology and research through exploring the potential for object-relations theory in psychoanalysis (and in particular the concept of transitional phenomena) to extend and deepen understanding of various aspects of cultural experience.

The emergent nature of these new areas of research demands a processual, investigative approach to the project’s aims and objectives. A series of interlinked group meetings and workshops has been organised, with the ultimate objective of producing articles for scholarly journals, an artwork, and a collection of essays. During 2008 and 2009, the T-PACE group organised three workshops at which group members, along with invited speakers and guest participants, explored specific issues and questions emerging from our study.  

A number of articles and other works (exhibitions, translations, conference keynotes) by group members have appeared or are in preparation, and Little Madnesses: Winnicott, Transitional Phenomena, and Cultural Experience, a collection of new essays deriving from and related to the project will be published by I.B. Tauris in 2012. There are also  longer term plans to hold a conference or symposium.

T-PACE convenor and Principal Investigator: Annette Kuhn (QMUL)
Founding T-PACE group members: Matt Hills (University of Cardiff), Patricia Townsend (Slade School of Fine Art), Tania Zittoun (University of Neuchâtel), Suzy Gordon (University of the West of England), Amal Treacher (University of Nottingham).

Current T-PACE group members:

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