Atmospheres, Situations, and Sport: A Neophenomenological Contribution to Sociological Atmosphere Research

The paper makes a contribution to the nascent sociological research on atmospheres. The theoretical basis for this research is the new phenomenology of Hermann Schmitz. Its strength lies in a precise concept of atmosphere that focuses on the pathic dimension of atmospheres on the one hand, and on a broad concept of situation that transcends microsocial interaction contexts on the other. With reference to Schmitz, the central thesis of the article is that atmospheres are always embedded in situations. The sociological continuation of this thesis consists in analyzing atmospheres on the basis of joint situations. The central aim of the paper is therefore to show systematically how atmospheres are integrated into joint situations. This is done in three steps: first, on a terminological level; second, on the basis of a typology of situations that serves to identify and describe atmospheres in a differentiated way; and third, with the help of a case study that conceptually expands the mediation of situation and atmosphere. Sport serves as an empirical field of reference for the study. The intention in doing so is to sensitize sociology of sport to the research area of "atmospheres", since atmospheres are an almost entirely unknown topic in this field of research. Above all, however, the observations on the situated atmospheres of sport have the purpose of providing empirical evidence for the theoretical considerations.