From Hongkew Ghetto to Shanghai Ark: Rethinking representation in the (re)making of affective atmosphere during cultural regeneration

Abstract

The “Shanghai Ark” is an urban regeneration project in Shanghai’s Hongkou (Hongkew) District, aiming to transform the built environment and cultural legacy of the former Jewish refugee community, Hongkew Ghetto, into the present Shanghai Ark neighbourhood, showcasing the city’s and the nation’s cosmopolitanism and generosity. This article re-evaluates the notion of representation and explores the interplay among top-down representations, emotional resonances, and atmospheric practices in urban spaces. By employing discourse analysis and ethnographic data, we examine perceptions and practices of various stakeholders, including officials, citywalk leaders, museum curators, residents, local visitors, and foreign visitors. The findings reveal that affective atmospheres emerge from the interweaving of top-down narratives, personal experiences and memories, and emotional resonances between bodies and material environment, as well as the emotional interactions among people. By reconsidering representations in shaping affective atmospheres, this study sheds light on the fluid and dynamic nature of cultural regeneration, offering a deeper understand of the multifaceted experiences and emotions that underlie urban development.