Opazität als Widerstand
Karin Michalski
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, Transcultural Studies
2025S, scientific seminar (SEW), 2.0 ECTS, 1.0 semester hours, course number S05586
Description
In (post-)colonial conditions, the production of research and knowledge is often characterized by social and material hierarchies. The French philosopher Édouard Glissant therefore calls for a right to opacity, the right not to be understood, and opposes the claim to all-encompassing transparency. Opacity can thus also be understood as a form of refusal and resistance. „If we look at the process of ‚understanding’ beings and ideas as it operates in western society, we find that it is founded on an insistence on this kind of transparency. In order to ‚understand’ and therefore accept you, I must reduce your density to this scale of conceptual measurement which gives me a basis for comparisons and perhaps judgements.“ (Celia M. Britton, Édouard Glissant and Postcolonial Theory: Strategies of Language and Resistance, New World Studies Series, 1999).
The question of what forms of expression this right to “opacity” could take arises not only for scientific, but also for artistic projects.
The seminar will deal with cultural studies texts from the fields of postcolonial/decolonial and queer theory and relate these to examples of film, video and performance art.
Examination Modalities
Active participation in all seminar dates and preparation of a thesis paper on a text and/or an artistic work relating to the questions of the seminar. Examination modalities will be announced in the seminar.
Comments
The artistic works inspire the analysis of the scientific texts and provide interpretations for a contextualization of the issues raised in the texts. This involves an analysis of both the text and the work - which includes content, aesthetic and formal aspects.
Participants with different levels of knowledge can take part in the course.
The seminar will be held bilingually (English/German) - the prerequisite is a basic knowledge of both languages and a willingness to engage with the situation.
Key Words
Kulturwissenschaften, Queer theory, Videokunst
Dates
08 April 2025, 10:00–12:00 (preliminary discussion)
Course Enrolment
From 07 February 2025, 00:00 to 31 March 2025, 00:01
Via online registration
Curriculum Allocation
Art Education: subject kkp (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80
Art Education: subject kkp (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 067/003.80
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften 067/003.25
Art Education: subject kkp (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 067/003.80
Art Education: subject tex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 071/003.80
Art Education: subject dae (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 072/003.80
Art Education: subject dex (Bachelor): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80
Art Education: subject dex (Master): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: Lehrveranstaltung nach Wahl aus wissenschaftlicher Praxis, SE 074/003.80
Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Seminar aus dem Bereich Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften 074/003.25
Art Education: subject dex (Enhancements study): Wissenschaftliche Praxis: FOR: Lehrveranstaltungen nach Wahl aus Wissenschaftliche Praxis 074/003.80
TransArts - Transdisciplinary Arts (Bachelor): Theoretical foundations: Theoretical foundations 180/003.01
Expanded Museum Studies (Master): Electives: Transcultural Studies 537/080.16
Stage Design (2. Section): Kunsttheorie und Kulturwissenschaften: Transkulturelle Studien 542/207.10
Media Arts: Specialisation in Transmedia Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie und Geschichte : Kulturwissenschaften 566/208.15
Media Arts: Specialisation in Digital Arts (2. Section): Wissenschaft, Theorie, Geschichte: Kulturwissenschaften 567/208.15
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 1: Transcultural Studies 568/005.09
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Transcultural Studies 568/006.09
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Master): Study Areas 4-6: Study Area 6: Transcultural Studies 569/022.06
Design: Specialisation in Design and Narrative Media (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Fundamentals: Humanities 576/203.02
Design: Specialisation in Communication Design (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Humanities 577/203.02
Conservation and Restoration (2. Section): Geisteswissenschaften: Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte 588/204.10
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Free Electives out of Scientific and Research Practice 605/202.80
Design: Specialisation in Applied Photography and Time-based Media (2. Section): Methodological and Theoretical Basics: Humanities 626/203.02
Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Bachelor): Economy and Politics: Deepening / Application: Transcultural Studies 700/004.24
Co-registration: possible
Attending individual courses: possible