Firstly, the participants will receive an introduction into the specific field of the so-called ‘Wild Blue Media Studies’ and the virulent terminology of the “Oceanic”. The engagement with texts from the fields of Postcolonial Studies and Feminist Theory should sharpen the participants’ critical reflection on social and cultural power relations. Secondly, they will read, observe and reflect on contemporary literature, film, and audio-visual art related to the questions raised during the first part. Thirdly, students will broaden their knowledge on contemporary artistic research, which is a field combining investigative and aesthetic approaches.
Diving into the Oceanic: Critical and Artistic Research
Diving into the Oceanic: Critical and Artistic Research
Around 70 per Cent of the surface of the Earth is water. The proportion of water in the human body is almost the same. Our relationship as humans to the liquid element is as essential as it is ambivalent. On one hand, we are drawn to the ocean’s sublime beauty, living with and from its tides and resources. On the other hand, the ocean has always been a topos of the White man’s will to power over nature, of colonialist endeavours and desires, and most recently a place of death and tragedy in regards to migration policies but also climate crisis.
Keeping that ambiguity in mind, we will explore the potential of an “Oceanic perspective” – trying not only to think ABOUT but WITH the ocean, thereby creating a somewhat ‘amphibic’ position. In the last years, this critical perspective (stemming mostly from postcolonial and feminist theory) has presented a challenge to anthropocentric and hegemonic views. In the first 1-2 sessions, we will read a sample of relevant academic texts on the topic, in order to get an idea of the Oceanic as a concept. Next, we will turn to contemporary artistic explorations of the Oceanic, in order to develop our own approaches as artistic research.
Hence and in order to do so, we will furthermore offer students the possibility to acquire and engage with tools and methods of artistic research.
This course includes an attendance phase in Weimar from February 27 to March 08, 2025.
Bachelor and Master. No prerequisites are necessary to participate in the seminar.
Your application should be submitted until November 3rd, 2024.
Required application documents:
- Letter of Nomination (applicants financed by the BIP scholarship from the partner universities)
- CV
- Letter of motivation or a short motivation video (max. 1min): Please indicate 1) which aspect of the Ocean/Oceanic intrigues you most, 2) what kind of artistic practices are you familiar with (if any) or would like to explore
- English language certificate (test certificate or a letter from your university stating your English language knowledge)
The course fee is 300 EURO and includes:
- Orientation & Support
- Programme according to description
- Teaching materials
- Bauhaus Spring School ID card
- Certificate
- Free use of library
The course fee does not include:
- Travel costs
- Accommodation
- Insurance
Participants, coming from the partner universites in the framework of Erasmus BIP scholarship and BUW students don't pay the course fee.
In addition to the Spring School courses, we offer a comprehensive "Service Package", which includes participation in the excursions and social programme, free entrance to the museums, travel by public transport and lunch in the student cafeteria. The booking of the Service Package for €70 is optional.
Students who do not take up the Service Package are automatically required to pay a course deposit of €100. This is to protect us against costs incurred by non-participation. Since in this case, the universities will not receive any funding from the European Commission. The deposit will be refunded as soon as the participants start the course in Weimar.
3 ECTS
BUW students: please check with the academic programme coordinator for credit recognition.
Please note our terms and conditions (admission conditions, cancellation conditions etc.)
What is our relationship to the ocean? Skimming the surface or diving into depths, we will explore “The Oceanic” as a concept and research topic as well as its artistic potentialities. While we admire its beauty and rely on its resources, the ocean has also been a site of colonial exploitation and recent migration tragedies.