Utopia/Dystopia revisited
Karin Michalski
Institute of Studies in Art and Art Education, Transcultural Studies
2026S, scientific seminar (SEW), 4.0 ECTS, 2.0 semester hours, course number S05937
Gender/diversity/queer-specific
Description
National and international conflicts, the consequences of disasters, but also of social injustices, repeatedly promote scenarios and thought patterns in cultural studies and artistic works that allow the respective potential of a situation to be rethought or further developed. This often gives rise to utopian or dystopian visions of the future, which in turn allow conclusions to be drawn about the analysis of current social situations and also make suggestions for a new consideration of historical conditions.
“The here and now is a prison house. We must strive, in the face of the here and now’s totalizing rendering of reality, to think and feel a then and there. Some will say that all we have are the pleasures of the moment, but we must never settle for that minimal transport; we must dream and enact new and better pleasures, other ways of being in the world, and ultimately new worlds." J. E. Munoz, Cruising Utopia
The seminar aims to create space for reflection on what utopian thinking and action could mean today. The seminar will examine cultural studies texts, particularly from the fields of postcolonial/decolonial and feminist-queer theory, and relate them to current examples of video and performance art. The seminar aims to create space for reflection on what utopian thinking and action could mean today.
Examination Modalities
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. 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 as well as a presentation during the seminar.
Comments
block seminar:
13.04.2026, 17:00 s.t. bis 18:00 via Zoom (preliminary meeting)
04.05.2026 - 10:00 bis 16:30 | Seminarraum 20 (VZA, 5.OG)
05.05.2026 - 10:00 bis 15:00 | Seminarraum 23 (VZA, EG)
11.05.2026 - 10:00 bis 16:30 | Seminarraum 20 (VZA, 5.OG)
12.05.2026 - 10:00 bis 16:30 | Seminarraum 23 (VZA, EG)
Key Words
Queer femistisch dekolonial, Video- und Performancekunst, discussion, art in public space
Dates
Mon, 13 April 2026, 17:00–18:00 , "via Zoom, https://dieangewandte-at.zoom.us/meetings/61057190068/invitations?signature=MCyF3JLv1eb7ZRPgy1oPSCYuFyZwpC9bb4xKJVObW5A , 17 Uhr s.t." (preliminary discussion)
Course Enrolment
From 02 February 2026, 09:00
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