Transformations have always been central to scientific and artistic practices across cultures. Challenging existing knowledge and experimenting with the lively composition of worlds is what sustains their social and aesthetic significance.

This course is a cross-disciplinary exploration of transformation in scientific and artistic practices. We revisit critical shifts across onto-epistemic registers and explore how transformation has been addressed both as an ‘object’, experience, process, and/or outcome of scientific and artistic research. Drawing on selected texts and case studies from history, philosophy, the natural sciences, and the arts, we unpack underlying assumptions and premises in transdisciplinary conversations and discuss how they may expand our understanding of transformation beyond its strategic use as a signaling device and empty metaphor.

Your performance will be graded on the basis of your continuous participation and critical input in class, including a research diary, and structured debates of guest lectures.

This class is part of the BA Transformation Studies. Art x Science Curriculum. Students enrolled in this program are given priority with registration.

The lectures and guest presentations are designed to expand on the main themes introduced during the Start Weeks sessions: https://base.uni-ak.ac.at/courses/2024W/S05012/. Make sure you are enrolled in both courses.

PLEASE NOTE: Pending the availability of guest lecturers, some of the dates and times may be subject to minor changes over the next few weeks.