Garden Times: Raum, Zeit und Gemeinschaft
Ivana Miloš
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, Cultural Studies
2026S, scientific seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S05736
Description
The garden is so many things at once: ubiquitous phenomenon and practice, lively concept and physical, ever-changing place where encounters with the other and making kin can take place. As an emblematic, metaphorical, ambiguous and absolutely concrete place, the garden brings together diverse aspects of more-than-human worlds. In an intimate interaction with soil, water, plants, animals, weather and seasons, practice and theory come together in the garden in a uniquely complex way.
Robert Pogue Harrison writes: “Gardening is an opening of worlds – of worlds within worlds – beginning with the world at one's feet.” Gardens are as much about a humble and sensitive response and “response-ability” (Donna Haraway) as they are about human planning, however well thought out. The seminar offers a look over the garden hedge through an engagement with the theoretical and philosophical potentials of the garden. The role that gardens have played and continue to play in art and culture will be traced by means of a historical-poetic line.
Through texts by writers such as Margaret Tait, Philippe Jaccottet, Louise Glück, Musō Soseki, Karel Čapek, Jamaica Kincaid and John Clare, the topic of the garden is delved into and unearthed in order to question the dominant ideas of space, time and commonality and to experience the garden as a portal and opening towards plant-thinking.
Excursions to various gardens are also planned to deepen this understanding.
Examination Modalities
- Regular attendance (80 %)
- Substantive participation in class discussion
- Preparation of required reading, i.e., texts and materials, and a presentation
- Short texts
This information is for guidance purposes only. All requirements will be clarified in detail at the first session, and can always be adapted to individual needs and problems.
Comments
After registration, attendance at the first session is mandatory in order to keep your spot on the course.
The course will be held in German, with the possibility of integrating English if needed. The literature is in English, German, and possibly other languages – these will be adjusted and discussed within the group.
If you would like to participate in the course, but you do not speak German, you are welcome to speak English. If you have other concerns regarding this matter, write to me and we will find a solution together.
Key Words
Garten, garden, Pflanzenwissenschaften, Plant Studies, community, Pflanzen, more than human, Literatur, literature, Kulturgeschichte, Poesie, poetry, environment, literature
Dates
Tue, 10 March 2026, 14:00–15:30 Seminar Room 10 , "Attendance at the first session is mandatory in order to keep your spot on the course."
Tue, 17 March 2026, 14:00–17:00 Seminar Room 23
Tue, 21 April 2026, 14:00–17:00 Seminar Room 23
Thu, 23 April 2026, 20:30–22:30 Austrian Film Museum, meeting point: main entrance, Augustinerstraße 1 , "Screening of Derek Jarman's "The Garden""
Tue, 28 April 2026, 14:00–17:00 Seminar Room 23
Tue, 12 May 2026, 14:00–17:00 Seminar Room 24
Tue, 19 May 2026, 14:00–17:00 Botanical Garden of the University of Vienna, meeting point: main entrance at Mechelgasse 2
Tue, 09 June 2026, 14:00–17:00 Seminar Room 23
Tue, 16 June 2026, 14:00–15:30 Seminar Room 25
Course Enrolment
From 02 February 2026, 09:00 to 28 February 2026, 09:01
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: Cultural Studies 537/080.14
Stage Design (2. Section): Kunsttheorie und Kulturwissenschaften: Kulturwissenschaften 542/207.02
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: Cultural Studies 568/005.01
Kunst- und Kulturwissenschaften (Master): Electives Area 2: Cultural Studies 568/006.01
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
Industrial Design (1. Section): Art and Cultural Studies - Basics: Cultural Studies 580/104.07
Fine Arts (2. Section): Scientific and Research Practice: Art Theory, Cultural Studies, Art History, Philosophy 605/202.01
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
Co-registration: possible
Attending individual courses: possible