Improperes Begehren

Tyan Fritschy
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, Transcultural Studies
2025W, scientific seminar (SEW), 2.0 ECTS, 1.0 semester hours, course number S05796

Gender/diversity/queer-specific

Description

In this block seminar, we will explore the role of desire in forging anti-fascist futures. Our starting point is the recognition that desire is not inherently subversive—it becomes political through how it is bound: either to collective liberation or to annihilation. The advancing fascist intensification increases the supply of fantasmatic objects that channel desire in fascist directions. Drawing on impulses from Queer Theory, Black Studies, Psychoanalysis, Freudo-Marxism, and Poststructuralism, we will develop an improper, anti-fascist desire.

Improper desire refers to those forms of longing that evade hegemonic assignments; it is chaotic, risky, and aims not at identity but at radical alterity. It is the counterpole to fascist desire's demand for purity and control. The political relevance of examining desire lies in desire's operation as an unhearable agent of futurity – by preparing (anti-)fascist futures without however determining them.

We will read texts and excerpts by Heike Schotten, Avgi Saketopoulou, Eve Kosofsky Sedgwick, SAMOIS, Klaus Theweleit, Gilles Deleuze/Félix Guattari, Jacques Lacan, Fred Moten, José Esteban Muñoz, and other authors.

Seminar format: Research workshop and zine production. On the first seminar day, we will devote ourselves to collective reading and discussion to develop a shared vocabulary and conceptual overview of desire and (anti-)fascism. On the second day, participants will deepen specific aspects in small-group research workshops and process their engagement into zine contributions.

 

Examination Modalities

  • Active participation in seminar

  • Minimum 80% attendance

  • Preparation of a zine contribution

Comments

We will schedule an additional meeting for zine presentations. Participants should be willing to work on their zine contributions beyond seminar hours.

Key Words

queer, trans, theory, desire

Dates

Fri, 14 November 2025, 10:00–17:00 Seminar Room 25
Fri, 21 November 2025, 10:00–16:15 Seminar Room 25

Course Enrolment

From 01 September 2025, 09:00 to 29 January 2026, 09:01
Via online registration

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 700/004.20

Cross-Disciplinary Strategies (Bachelor): Economy and Politics: Deepening / Application: Transcultural Studies 700/004.24

Co-registration: possible

Attending individual courses: possible