This artistic seminar is intended as a broad, transdisciplinary introduction covering significant areas connected to performance studies. The individual units are devoted to various subject areas, in particular film, media and performance studies, ethnology, philosophy, cultural history and science studies. The focus, however, is on a specific research question: How do we understand the role of the agent? Is the agent always, necessarily or normally ‘a human being’? Is the model of all agency an individual, possibly even male, human being who consciously acts, guided by rules, purposes and intentions? By critiquing this assumption from various angles, we simultaneously open up a vast, diverse (new and newly discovered) field of relationships between various agencies and their environments. 

The question of who acts how, if at all, is a central point of reference in performance. As the subtitle suggests, this question is linked to the astonishing renaissance of ‘animistic’ worldviews. In addition, there are individual case studies of works of art, especially animated films and others that can be described as ‘animated,’ to demonstrate that atypical, non-human actors and agents have always been implicitly at work in so-called Western modern art.

Assessment takes place mainly during the course in the form of project work and presentation-style contributions, which can be made in various media, as text, but also as audio and video contributions or through (info)-graphics. In all these contributions, performativity, i.e. the type of presentation, is always important. Contributions in groups of two or more students are welcome. Reading material and other materials are provided free of charge on an ongoing basis. Preparatory study prior to the respective dates is a prerequisite for participation and assessment. 

In addition and as a supplement, end-of-semester examinations are offered. However, these should preferably be oral and in person. 

The use of KI-generated text is, unless as a conscious conceptual choice to be argued, not welcome. To prevent the use of KI-generated papers as a means to an assessment personal exchange and the use of diverse media are the preferred means.