This reading- and practice seminar is inspired by Stefano Harney’s and Fred Moten’s proposal to think the demand for abolition (of unjust conditions and institutions) inherent in abolitionism "not as the elimination of anything but abolition as the founding of a new society". (see Harney & Moten 2013, 42) In the seminar, we are going to engage with selected abolitionist literature, and investigate how we can think about this political practice on a structural as well as an individual level. We will be specifically interested in logics of punishment and punishing, thereby asking to what extent an individual, as well as collective artistic practice, can support us when wanting to investigate the aforementioned logics. Collaborative learning by way of reading, freewriting, and being in conversation are integral components of the seminar. If possible, we will invite guests.

The number of participants is limited to 15 students. Students willing to participate are asked to listen to Harm, Punishment, and Abolition with Mariame Kaba, from the Podcast Finding Our Way by Prentis Hemphill, and to write a short reflection (max. 2 pages). Hand in your reflection to belinda.kazeem-kaminski@uni-ak.ac.at until March 22, 2023. If you don’t submit the reflection paper in time, you will not be able to attend the seminar.

Link to Harm, Punishment, and Abolition with Mariame Kaba: https://www.findingourwaypodcast.com/individual-episodes/s2e12

Dates:

Mo., 27.03. 13-18 Uhr Großer Seminarraum

Tue., 28.03. 10-16 Uhr Studio Ortsbezogene Kunst

Fr., 31.03. 10-16 Uhr Studio Ortsbezogene Kunst

Sa., 1.04. 10-15 Uhr Großer Seminarraum

The seminar is completed with a paper (you’ll get details in the seminar on time).

The seminar will be held bilingual (German and English). Questioning the positions and privileges we are able to inhabit. Therefore, active participation in discussions and the reading of the texts, are an integral part of the seminar. 

The introduction of the seminar takes place on March 9, 2023 at 10:30 as past of the kick-off event of the department!