A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Aesthetic flux: inquiring into the sensuous dynamics of children, matter and environments with a more-than-human lens




AuthorsRenlund Jenny, Kumpulainen Kristiina, Byman Jenny, Wong Chin Chin, Sintonen Sara

PublisherRoutledge, Taylor & Francis

Publication year2024

JournalEnvironmental Education Research

Volume30

Issue7

First page 1076

Last page1092

ISSN1350-4622

eISSN1469-5871

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2024.2350675

Web address https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504622.2024.2350675

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/404650136


Abstract

Although sensuous and embodied engagement is an integral part of child–environment relationalities, the intersections of aesthetics, children and environments remain scarcely addressed. As a response, this study develops a concept of ‘aesthetic flux’ to delve into the sensuous dynamics of matter and bodies in the context of a storying workshop in a forest with first graders in a Finnish primary school. An arts-based, post-qualitative methodology guided our analysis of video recordings from the workshop, resulting in visual-sonic montages that draw attention to the intense movements and sounds of children, soap bubbles, air, a research camera and trees. Thinking through the concept of aesthetic flux, our study experiments with the abundance, indeterminacy and potentiality of sensuous dynamics where bodies (human and otherwise) become together and linger. Thus, our study reconfigures aesthetics as a creative and unpredictable force that materialises in both embodied and conceptual ways in environmental education and research with children.



Last updated on 2025-18-03 at 11:01