Kinetics and Dynamic Borders. Reflections on the Mediterranean.

Keywords: Mediterranean Basin, Relational Place, Dynamic Border(ing)
Session Type: Virtual Paper
Day: Wednesday
Session Start / End Time: 4/7/2021 08:00 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada)) - 4/7/2021 09:15 AM (Pacific Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 15

Abstract

The Mediterranean Basin is made of multiple forces interacting and shaping its “meaning”. The Italian geographer Chiara Brambilla et al. (2019) believe that the Mediterranean space should be understood as a historical and social phenomenon that is able to adopt different operational methods and ways in time and space. In this sense, it is a relational “place” that is independent from the traditional spatial-temporary coordinates of fixedness and continuity in territorial boundaries of states (Bialasiewicz et al. 2009; Cuttitta 2007; Scott et al. 2017). In addition, according to the Greek geographer Lila Leontidou (1990, 1993), Mediterranean cities have always been post-modern, because since the concept of post-modernity was created in the 1970s, identifying links with Mediterranean cities is possible. Post-modernity is not new because it has always existed here, given that Mediterranean cities have always shown a series of features that are very close to post-modernity.
Considering these premises, the proposal pretends to introduce a post-humanistic understanding of the Mediterranean basin. The Mediterranean features of “transitivity , porosity and rhythm” (Leontidou, 1993) will be the interpretation keys of a qualitative and critical understanding of the spatial representations of its dynamic border(ing) processes (Konrad, 2015; Paradiso, 2019). The resulting Mediterraneity should no longer be solely and exclusively defined through the otherness of global cultures, but rather it should take care of the kinetics of history, culture and religion (among others), thus introducing a possible answer to its location.