Projects at summaery2022: Discussing the origin and creation of knowledge with Jun.-Prof. Dr Eva Krivanec
This year, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s annual show has the intentionally ambiguous bilingual title of »Wer weiß? | Who knows?« and explores how, where and by whom knowledge is produced. The Faculty of Media is responsible for organising the summaery2022, hence it is only logical that the project that has lent it its name also has its origins there. In the interdisciplinary project »SHAKIN’ – Sharing subaltern knowledge through international cultural collaborations«, students from the Faculty of Media, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, and Faculty of Art and Design question the origin of knowledge, including knowledge that does not emanate from an academic environment but rather from practice. The participants also examine knowledge created by other media though – by machines, orally via YouTube or through bodily practices such as dance, for instance. We spoke with course tutor Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec from the Professorship for European Media Culture about the project and the work with the students.
What’s so special about the project, topic or methods?
Perhaps that it works on so many levels. It’s a research project with a socio-political concern; it’s very interested in alternative didactic approaches, especially with regard to the supervision of students’ project work; and it’s an internationalisation project for our departments and the universities as a whole. Above all, though, it’s a great adventure full of ups and downs for all involved – be they cultural workers, university teachers or students.
Was there a particular »highlight« that you could look back on during the work phase?
The project will run for three years, from September 2020 to September 2023. This meant that our first project year was very much shaped by the pandemic and the associated travel restrictions. So one first highlight was therefore certainly that we managed to hold the first face-to-face meeting with master’s students from Lyon, Belgrade and Weimar in Belgrade in October 2021. This allowed the students from the three countries to get to know one another in person and to form working groups comprising three and six students from at least two different universities. The outcomes of these collaborations could already be presented in March 2022 during our Spring School, and we’re delighted to now be able to showcase them to a wider audience during the summaery.
What (generated) knowledge would you like to pass on to others?
It is my sincere wish that the master’s students, who participated in »SHAKIN’« in this »momentous year«, pass some of their experiences and insights on to the next generation of »SHAKIN’« participants, who will start next autumn, so that these can in turn be saved and passed on. In parallel to the work with the students, the project team has also developed an »in-process online handbook« dedicated to compiling knowledge and resources on »subaltern knowledge«. A preliminary version will be presented during the summaery and can be browsed in the exhibition itself.
What will happen to the project after the summaery?
Like many other EU-funded projects, »SHAKIN’« has a relatively short runtime of just three years. Fortunately, we’ll still be able to supervise a cohort of »SHAKIN’« participants in the next academic year from October 2022 to March/July 2023. But then we’ll have to conclude the project and strive to draw the most sustainable effects possible from our intensive cooperation.
»SHAKIN’ – Sharing subaltern knowledge through international cultural collaborations« is an international project funded by the EU as a »strategic partnership« within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme. It brings together three university and three non-university partners. The Université Lumière Lyon 2, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the University of Arts Belgrade as well as the Association Independent Cultural Scene of Serbia, the Stockholm Museum of Women’s History, and Le LABA, a French organisation that advises on the implementation of European projects in the field of culture and education, have joined forces for the inclusion and development of subaltern knowledge.
The students’ ideas will be showcased from 14 to 17 July 2022 during the »summaery2022«. Projects include performances, exhibitions, interventions in public spaces, a feminist audio walk, graffiti and fanzine workshops, and documentary film productions. There will also be a handbook on the subject of »subaltern knowledge«. The project was supervised by the lecturers from the Professorship for European Media Culture, Jun.-Prof. Dr. Eva Krivanec and Katja Hettich.
Exhibition venues and times:
»SHAKIN’ – Spaces of Knowledge« panel discussion: Thursday 14 July, 7–9 pm
University Library
GRAMA-Lounge
Steubenstraße 6
99423 Weimar
»SHAKIN’« exhibition, Thursday 14 July to Sunday 17 July (regular summaery opening times; Thursday, 4–6 pm)
Karl-Haußknecht-Straße 7, Ground Floor
99423 Weimar
»Breaking Bread« workshop, Friday 15 July, 3–6 pm
Karl-Haußknecht-Straße 7, Ground Floor 99423 Weimar More information on the project: www.uni-weimar.de/de/universitaet/aktuell/jaehrliche-veranstaltungen/jaehrliche-veranstaltungen-2022/summaery/projekte/?tx_showcase_summaeryprojectpublic and www.uni-weimar.de/en/media/chairs/media-studies/europaeische-medienkultur/shakin