Foley, Ronan (2011) Performing health in place: The holy well as a therapeutic assemblage. Health and Place, 17 (2). pp. 470-479. ISSN 1353-8292

Download (3MB)

Abstract

This paper examines the holy well as a representative therapeutic landscape with a particular focus on linking a traditional setting with contemporary theory associated with the ‘performative turn’. This is developed within the paper to suggest a new theoretical model of the ‘therapeutic assemblage’ containing material, metaphoric and inhabited dimensions. Drawing empirical evidence from Irish holy wells, complex holistic performances of health are identified within such settings. Deeper associations with more-than-representational theory suggest new directions in the study of therapeutic landscapes to uncover the importance of cultural practice and lay narratives of healing in the creation of healthy place.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Postprint version of original published article. The definitive version of this article is available at doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2010.11.014
Keywords:	Therapeutic landscapes; Performance; Indigenous health; Holy well; Ireland; NRT;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography
Item ID:	3561
Depositing User:	Dr. Ronan Foley
Date Deposited:	04 Apr 2012 14:38
Journal or Publication Title:	Health and Place
Publisher:	Elsevier
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/jou...
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

Repository Staff Only(login required)

Item control page

Downloads

Origin of downloads