London's fatbergs and affective infrastructuring.

Area of Science:

• Urban Studies
• Infrastructure Studies
• Cultural Geography

Background:

• London's sewerage system faces significant blockages from fatbergs, accumulations of fat and other materials.
• Public perception and media portrayals shape understanding of these infrastructural challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the affective dimensions of London's fatbergs and their role in 'affective infrastructuring'.
• To explore how public audiences are emotionally engaged and shaped by these phenomena.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of diverse media representations, including museum exhibitions, news articles, and documentaries.
• Examination of public affective responses such as disgust, pride, horror, shame, and anxiety.

Main Results:

• Fatbergs and sewerage infrastructure are 'performed' through public affect.
• Affective responses contribute to the construction of London as uniform and its sewerage system as natural.
• This process can obscure class, cultural differences, and historical specificity.

Conclusions:

• 'Affective infrastructuring' highlights how public emotions shape perceptions of urban infrastructure.
• Understanding these affective enactments is crucial for a nuanced view of urban systems and societal relations.
• The study reveals how collective emotional responses can simplify complex urban realities.