Affect/Emotion - Orientation Matters: A Conversation between Sigrid Schmitz and Sara Ahmed

Abstract

Sara Ahmed is Professor of Race and Cultural Studies at the Goldsmith College, University of London. With her books "The Cultural Politcs of Emotion" and "The Promise of Happiness", she had a strong influence on feminist and queer discourses in affect studies. Sigrid Schmitz had a conversation with her about the different facets and framings of the terms 'emotion' and 'affect', and about the relations between bodies and sensations. The following dialogue addresses the ambiguity of meanings and wordings in the affect discourse and the use of 'feminist killjoys' in feminist debates and political activism.