PATTERNS Lectures conference: “Is teaching always political? New challenges in higher education.”

”Is teaching always political? New challenges in higher education”—the question is more timely than ever. Within the programme of PATTERNS Lectures 2016/17 we started a passionate discussion about freedom of speech in the classroom, the role of university teachers and students as part of civil society, the responsibility for engagement and democracy of the university. This discussion serves as point of departure for the conference. This discussion serves as point of departure for the conference.

Recently, students at Freie Universität Berlin have refused to read Immanuel Kant, claiming that his vocabulary used for indigenous peoples was racist and hurtful. For whom is the classroom a “safe space” and can the institution of the University actually be a “safe space”? The current debates extend to discussions on necessary revisions of the historical canon. Should historical literature, media, and art works be excluded if they present profound challenges to notions of non-racist, non-sexist, non-homophobic discourse at universities?

In the frame of the conference we want to ask and discuss questions like: Is teaching always political? And has teaching always been political? What is the responsibility of the lecturer? How to deal with political discussions, with hate speech in the class room? Are there limits of free speech in the classroom? Who should draw them, and where? How do lecturers critically interact with institutions like the university, the state, art and culture? How should students be involved in civil society engagement?

The conference will bring inputs from different perspectives and a panel discussion about freedom of speech, civil society engagement and democracy with Boris Buden, Elke Krasny and Hedvig Turai (PATTERNS Lectures Advisors). Contribution to panels by: Ovidiu Gherasim-Proca, Marina Simić, Jelena Đorđević, Ana Kolarić, Izabela Kowalczyk, Nicole Dołowy-Rybińska, Andrea Pócsik, András Müllner, Cristina David, Irfan Hošić, Martin Piaček.

Programme

November 24, 1:30–7pm
Panel I: Teaching as a political act. How and for whom?
Panel II: To convince the indifferent that they are responsible, too.
Panel discussion about freedom of speech, civil society engagement and democracy: Is teaching always political? (moderated by Silke Lange)

November 25, 9:30am–12pm
Panel III: Activism, activation and teaching

The event is organised by WUS Austria and ERSTE Foundation in cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, within the framework of PATTERNS Lectures, a programme to support new courses in the fields of artistic research, art history, cultural theory and cultural studies at public universities in Central and South Eastern Europe. PATTERNS Lectures was initiated by ERSTE Foundation and is implemented by World University Service (WUS) Austria.

Contact: Michaela Handke, patterns [​at​] wus-austria.org / T +43699181820-22