Makeshift Poetry? The insolvency of neoliberalism and the solvency of the common(s) : A case study of Raumlabor's makeshift intervention Allmänna Badet in Gothenburg, Sweden

This thesis is the result of a set of personal concerns about, on the one hand, how the debates about the modes of expression of the neoliberal regime - particularly in the so-called "urban world" (assuming that there is something outside the "urban”, which is a discussion I did not have place for)- develop and, on the other, of a feeling of inadequacy in relation to how the so-called “urban commons” are conceptualized by many of its promoters. My way of dealing with these concerns assumes that a conceptual review of both phenomena is necessary. In that sense, I propose, based on, principally, theorists Pierre Dardot and Christian Laval, that the point of departure for their understanding should be that of considering them as “social principles”. This conceptualisation brings about distinctive consequences both in how we might fight one principle back and how we may foster the spring of the other one. This point of view will present both principles as mutually exclusive, meaning that while one operates, the other cannot. This will lead me to suggest that the "principle of the common" should be taken as the alternative to the "neoliberal principle." Subsequently, and for being able to frame what the transit from one social principle to another consists of, I will draw upon basic conceptions of classical sociology and the Italian operaismo tradition and will try to demonstrate how the possibility of this transit highly depends on collective representational processes which involve the enacting of a praxis. Once the previous has been settled, I will develop upon philosopher Franco Berardi s notion of Poetry -basically, meaning creationfor afterwards hinging upon semiologist Umberto Eco’s theorizations on semiology of architecture. This way, I will try to expand on how certain expressions of makeshift urbanism, as practico-aesthetical experiences, might help bring about the mentioned social processes. Using that experimental theoretical framework -which relies on the concepts of Poetry, Insolvency and Solvency-, I will analyse the ways in which Allm nna Badet, a public sauna built in the former harbour of Gothenburg following makeshift procedures, might have elicited the societal processes needed for the mentioned paradigm shift. Basing myself in -mainly- architectural semiological analysis applied to my observations of the built environment and through semi-structured interviews to the users of the installation, I will try to discuss on how the involvement in that built environment’s spatial practices might have influenced the users’ conceptions and commitment regarding both social principles. I will conclude that makeshift urbanism presents itself as an adequate tool for bringing about transfigurations in the material urban hierarchies as well as for influencing subjects’ valuative schemes in the direction of the common and in detriment of the neoliberal. However, I will conclude as well, that the tool might not be capable for fostering wider and lasting social change by itself, prospect which, I suggest, might change if the tool is used at a denser and spread-out fashion alongside the urban tissue.

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