Noutsou, Styliani (2018) A philosophy of home: a study on an alternative experience of domesticity. Doctoral thesis (PhD), University of Sussex.

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Abstract

The major objective of this thesis is to provide an alternative to the predominant
model of the Western urban home, arguing that it is more detrimental than beneficial
to its inhabitants.
In order to achieve this, it first explores the development of home through a
genealogical analysis. It then considers the concepts with which it is traditionally
connected, such as those of identity, safety, privacy and satisfaction, supporting that
the idealised home hides numerous issues of concern (e.g. class and sex inequalities,
physical and psychological violence). In order to form a more comprehensive picture,
the thesis draws on different philosophical approaches discussing the idea of home,
while it explores a variety of contemporary habitation and home-making practices
(e.g. smart and second homes, new technologies inside the house, home and
consumerism).
The normative and overly-idealised domestic model, promoted in Western
urban societies, is presented as detrimental both on a personal and on a social level.
Therefore, alternatives are explored in Adorno’s ‘Hotel Room’, Jameson’s ‘Dirty
Realism’ and Deleuze and Guattari’s ‘Nomadology’. The lack of viability characterising
the abovementioned proposals leads to the examination of the Deleuzoguattarian
concept of the Body without Organs; the home as a BwO provides the contemporary
agents with the tools to reconstruct an autonomous space where they can recreate
their personal discourse and influence the social ground accordingly.
Through the analysis of home this thesis explores how and why it has been
appropriated by systemic forces and highlights a very serious issue: the fact that our
personal space is no longer personal. Simultaneously, a common concern of feminist
and post-structuralist background is addressed regarding the process of selfredefinition
and the ways to approach it. The response entails a reconstructed
autonomous home with a respective influence on the public sphere.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Schools and Departments:	School of Media, Arts and Humanities > Philosophy
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) > B0105 Special topics, A-Z > B0105.M4 Meaning G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GT Manners and customs (General) > GT0165 Houses. Dwellings T Technology > TX Home economics > TX0013 Theory. Philosophy
Depositing User:	Library Cataloguing
Date Deposited:	04 Jan 2019 10:50
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2022 15:36
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/81115

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