Spooky concepts and urban studies: Conceptual metaphor, narrative tension and explanatory power

From the metaphor-soaked concepts of Dracula urbanism, Vampire index, Frankenstein urbanism and zombie neoliberalism to idea a vampire property-holding class, conceptual metaphors are repeating theme in urban studies. Once you alert their presence, seem be everywhere, operating as key literary devices, productive interpretive tactics critical discursive manoeuvres field. And if it is true that metaphor an important device studies, then field's use deserves our attention. Taking Wilson Wyly's prompt, this commentary offers some speculative reflections on before commenting concept directly. The discussion organised around narrative tension, explanatory power playfulness affords I argue comes into play at level analytical acuity. A good has moves understanding process, issue, etc. forward. It opens new vistas, or brings focus stakes, paths way for types empirical investigation Put simply, allows theoretical intervention. power; takes scholars somewhere beyond initial excitement about fancy name concept. spooky must analytically powerful, otherwise it's just Halloween; empty signifier dressed up night, trick treating citations