PROGRAM 2023

Program

The symposium "Radical Thought in the Anthropocene: Dimensions and Potentials of Critical Theory" aims to kickstart a long-term project with the goal of establishing an interdisciplinary and international network on Critical Theory at the University of Graz. The symposium will take place from 1 to 3 June 2023 and its goal is to address a host of socially relevant questions against the backdrop of the recent ‘discovery’ of the Anthropocene, the emerging certitude that humanity – now for the first time as a geological force – is provoking devastating climate change.  A select range of renowned scholars from various countries will discuss different dimensions of critique – including psychoanalytical, feminist and historical, technological and media perspectives – from a wide range of academic and sociocultural viewpoints, with specific emphasis on the tensions across theoretical reflection and social practice. Download the full program here!

The symposium will be streamed via Webex.

Link:
https://unigraz.webex.com/unigraz-en/j.php?MTID=maea6b918f9006b9c6433f56c589195e6

Meeting number (if required):
2742 121 2565

Meeting password (if requried):
QMjTwUxd562

The following speakers have been secured for the 2023 symposium:

Stefan Baumgarten (Translation Studies, Graz): Introduction to the topic.
Michael J. Thompson (Political Science, New York): 'Phronetic Criticism and the Transformative Potential of Critical Theory'.
Roger Behrens (Social Philosophy, Hamburg): 'Reason and Counterrevolution. Dialectical Imagination, Paralysis of Criticism, Resignation'.
Heiko Feldner (Political Philosophy, Cardiff): 'New Utopian Realism'.
Stefan Gandler (Social Theory, Mexico City): 'Emancipation of Use-value in the Critical Theory from the Americas'.
Rodrigo Duarte (Philosophy, Belo Horizonte): 'Oswald de Andrade's Anthropophagy as a Model of Radical Thought'.
Daniela Holzer (Educational Science, Graz): 'Negative and Radical Thinking in Educational Science. Rethematizing Unyielding Critical Theory'.
Sven Kramer (Literary Studies, Lüneburg): 'Current Nature Relations in Literature. On the critical potential of art'.
Gabriele Geml (Philosophy, Vienna): 'Theory as a Form of Praxis. Language and Linguistic Shape in Early Critical Theory'.
Sarah Pogoda (German Studies, Bangor/Wales): 'Of cheap knock-offs and Already-Mades. Forms of New Welsh Criticism'.
Susanne Kogler (Musicology, Graz): 'Art as Radical (Feminist) Thought: Materialism and Aesthetic Theory in the Anthropocene'.
Lydia Goehr (History of Philosophy, New York): 'Mistakes, Errors, and Accidents: New and Old Keys to Analysis in Film, Music, and the Machine Age'.

Thematically related art projects, combined with discussions, will accompany the scientific lectures:

Hannes Priesch, Graz: 'Hotel Abyss - Grund_Abgrund'. (Discussion with Hannes Priesch, Katia Huemer (Kunsthaus Graz), Stefan Baumgarten)
Sarah Pogoda, Bangor/Wales: 'Adorno's Nos. Grazing Graz'.

A film screening of Nikolaus Geyrhalter's 'Matter Out of Place' at the cinema KIZ RoyalKino will be followed by a concluding film discussion and interview with the following participants:

Sophia Laggner, Assistant Director /2nd Director and Production Manager 'Erde', 'Matter Out of Place', ; Barbara Brunner, Program director KIZ RoyalKino, Stefan Baumgarten and Susanne Kogler.

The program will be rounded off by a panel discussion entitled 'Criticism in the field of tension between theory and practice', moderated by Renata Schmidtkunz and including the following discussants:

Stefan Baumgarten (Ideology critique, Translation Studies, Graz)
Julian Blunk (Art Criticism, Art History, Graz)
Juliane Jarke (Critical Data Studies, Sociology, Graz)
Judith Laister (Cultural Criticism, Cultural Anthropology, Graz)
Sonja Rinofner-Kreidl (Criticism of Science, Philosophy, Graz)