Doreen Massey – 1944-2016
Doreen
Massey, who sadly died just over a week ago, was someone who
inspired generations of geographers to see the world differently, and introduced
many to ideas of space and place, and the way that the world ‘works’,
underpinned by geographical ideas connected with power geometries and geopolitics.
Reading Doreen’s work was an invitation to
challenge your thinking and immerse yourself in her ideas.
The first time I met Doreen was a few weeks
prior to starting my role as Curriculum leader with the Geographical
Association, back in 2008. I met David Lambert, and we drove to the Open University for a meeting
with Doreen and colleagues: Clive Barnett and Joe Smith. Coming straight from
the classroom to my new role it was exciting and challenging to be involved in
discussions regarding forthcoming support for teachers. I didn't know at the
time, but I would later be employed by the OU for 18 months to run their VITAL
CPD portal through 2011-13.
I also travelled down to the BBC to watch
the recording of an episode of ‘Thinking
Allowed’ on the subject of psychogeography, with Will Self, Doreen and Richard
Sennett – I blogged about it here.
Later that year, I attended an
Interdependence Day seminar at Sheffield University, convened by Dr. Tariq
Jazeel, and Doreen’s work had influenced the speakers, particularly her ‘World
City’ book. 2008 was obviously a year of ‘immersion’ as in December I attended
a lecture on spaces of optimism in a globalised world.
On New Years’ Day 2006, she was a part of
the ‘G Team’. Alongside David Lambert, Dan Raven Ellison and one of Dan’s
students: Hannah Boucher, they were guest editors for the Radio 4 ‘Today’
programme for New Year’s Day, and developed sessions which shared some of the
power of
Doreen recorded a lovely short essay piece
on the meaning of the global sense of the local, and this has also been used in
other contexts beyond
At the GA
Conference in 2010, I was excited to watch her keynote lecture, and was
asked to write up my observations on the lecture for the GA website. They can be seen here.
I was wearing a Google t-shirt with a location pin design and the words ‘I am here’
on the front and chatted with Doreen about where exactly ‘here’ was.
We introduced Doreen to our Mission:Explore books at the Derby
conference, which were part of a major push to introduce them to people.
Doreen was also happy to get involved in
supporting us. She was happy to wear a hoodie and flick the ‘V’s at Bryan Ledgard
as he took her photo.
Hoodies also featured in one of Doreen’s
articles.
Doreen was Honorary Vice-President of the
Geographical Association, and she was both critical and supportive of the work
of the association. I received a number of e-mails from former GA colleagues last weekend sharing memories of her. There will undoubtedly be some celebrations
of her work as part of the forthcoming GA conference. She will continue to influence
future generations of geographers yet to be introduced to her work.
Within hours of the announcement of her
passing, there were many memories of her inspirational ideas from people across
the world, who remembered particular pieces of writing, or meetings with
Doreen, often an introduction to thinking differently.
My colleague Claire and I raised a glass to Doreen last weekend… We trust that she is in a better place… and space...
My colleague Claire and I raised a glass to Doreen last weekend… We trust that she is in a better place… and space...
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