The seminar explores various instances in history where movements of ideas, goods, people, theories, practices etc. either set in motion certain technological and epistemological developments, or in turn where technologies were the conditions of possibility for these movements. Through interweaving episodic storytelling with media history, the agencies writing histories and realities – be they human, animal, machine or other – become tangible in their diversity. Each session reflects on one or more elements of these movements, technological, material, ecological, meteorological or else, to make it possible to understand the interrelations between them. For example, the students will learn about the connections between Non-Euclidean Space, the railway, telegraphy and Impressionism, or between the Jesuit mission in China in the 17th century and today’s GPS.

Students are required to pick one topic either from the course plan or agreed upon with the lecturer and do a presentation (20-40 minutes with subsequent discussion). Alternatively, they can write an essay or produce a (artistic) research portfolio.

• Contribution to the discussion through continuous presentation of the work in progress
• No absence without prior excuse
• Presentation of the final results

Students from other departments or universities will receive a place on the course subject to
room capacities.