On August 25, 1938, Walter Benjamin noted in his diary: ‘Eine brechtsche Maxime: Nicht an das Gute Alte anknüpfen, sondern an das schlechte Neue.’ – ‘A Brechtian Maxim: Don't start with the good old things but the bad new ones.’

How to reformulate Art and Art Theory in times of crisis? We are not only facing social and political transformations today, but those of the very concepts of the political and the social: Utopias of a 'delimitation' of art and the blurring of art and life have yielded to the medial, technological and biopolitical integration of contemporary art into society. This asks for a critical self-evaluation of the premises, methods, and goals of art-related practices, including curating, art theory and art history.

This seminar will investigate approaches that integrate current social and political trajectories and try to take into account their potential to radically shake up our understanding of critical practices, of social interaction, of identity politics. Therefore, we will have to ask not only what’s wrong with the current political and social situation, but also with art-related practices. Following Benjamin, will have to look at the repercussions of history in current, ‘bad new’ approaches. Following Brecht, we will have to think about how to adapt and transform them.

To complete this course,

- attendance to all sessions is mandatory,

- as well as active participation (reading texts, attending and discussing the public lectures),

- and a written seminar paper on a seminar-related topic (due Mid-March), prepared by an exposé/sketch including bibliography (due Mid-December or Mid-January).

Seminar and guest lecture series. The seminar sessions are intended to prepare the guest lectures by reading and discussing texts.

The guest lectures will be held in German and English, understanding both languages is necessary.