| Zdroj: |
Smedegaard Ernst Bengtsen, S, Nuriler, H, Gibson, A G, Grant, B & Barnett, R 2023, ' Solidarity as crisis : Vulnerable humanities and the regrowth of the university ', SOLIDARITY AND THE UNIVERSITY, Gdansk, Poland, 13/06/2023-15/06/2023 . |
| Popis: |
In this symposium we do not lament but welcome the current crisis in the humanities at universities around the world. Not in the sense that we support the political and economic rationales for further cuts and redundancy measures targeting the humanities most heavily. We welcome the renewed and reinvigorated discussions about the meaning, purpose, and societal value of the humanities following, and inextricably linked to, the situation of crisis. In many ways, the current crisis in the humanities, perhaps paradoxically, aids the rebirth of the university within society and in-the-world. Not meaning the notion of society defined by politicians and labour market speculators – but the ‘other society’ (Lingis, 1994); the margins, or peripheries, suddenly gaining (or at least fighting for) a voice in the discussion of ‘who’ societies include and ‘what’ the cultural values are really based on. The current crisis in the humanities opens a new possibility for solidarity (Løgstrup, 1993), as otherwise unacknowledged and overlooked social actors (or simply ‘citizens’) emerge into the discussion with a vulnerability that constitutes new forms of legitimacy and power. Sharing a common ground and point of departure in the ongoing four-year research project ‘Research for impact – integrating research and societal impact in the humanities PhD’ (Bengtsen et al, 2020), the four presenters bring together cross-institutional and cross-country perspectives and critical discussions of the state of the humanities at universities in Denmark, Ireland, UK, and New Zealand. Hatice Nuriler will present her ongoing research into processes of student becoming as they take place in the in-between spaces amidst intersecting academic, professional, and personal contexts and realities. With inspiration from Søren Kierkegaard, Nuriler will focus on the paradox of becoming as it takes place because of (and not as a defense against) existential vulnerability. Andrew Gibson will present his ongoing research into the ontology of the humanities, arguing that the humanities can only critically develop from the middle; where social and cultural spaces open up between, and contesting the cohesion of, firmly established socio-political realities. Barbara Grant will present her ongoing research into the importance of affect and emotion as crucial fibers of knowledge and reasoning in the humanities. The notion of affect shows that reason, emotion, power, and freedom are not competing but complimentary dimensions of higher education and co-constituents of critical learning. Ronald Barnett will offer a critical argument, namely that the humanities have been all too human and require a new legitimacy. In a world that is in motion - and antagonistic motion at that - and that is radically interconnected, being human has to embrace the totality of the Earth and all of its entities. Humans share this planet not just with other humans but with all else on and in and above this Earth. The Humanities, accordingly, gain their creative and critical powers from searching for a humanity born of an Earthly interconnectedness that is shot through with dissonance. The symposium will open with a common scene-setting (by Bengtsen, for 10 minutes), whereafter each presenter will give short presentations of 10 minutes (40 minutes in total), followed by questions and comments from the audience (25 minutes), and concluding with a series of replies from the symposia members (15 minutes). Symposium membersSøren S.E. Bengtsen, Aarhus University, Denmark (organizer and convenor)Hatice Nuriler, Aarhus University, Denmark (participant and presenter)Andrew Gibson, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland (participant and presenter)Barbara Grant, University of Auckland, New Zealand (participant and presenter)Ronald Barnett, University College London, United Kingdom (participant and presenter)In this symposium we do not lament but welcome the current crisis in the humanities at universities around the world. Not in the sense that we support the political and economic rationales for further cuts and redundancy measures targeting the humanities most heavily. We welcome the renewed and reinvigorated discussions about the meaning, purpose, and societal value of the humanities following, and inextricably linked to, the situation of crisis. In many ways, the current crisis in the humanities, perhaps paradoxically, aids the rebirth of the university within society and in-the-world. Not meaning the notion of society defined by politicians and labour market speculators – but the ‘other society’ (Lingis, 1994); the margins, or peripheries, suddenly gaining (or at least fighting for) a voice in the discussion of ‘who’ societies include and ‘what’ the cultural values are really based on. The current crisis in the humanities opens a new possibility for solidarity (Løgstrup, 1993), as otherwise unacknowledged and overlooked social actors (or simply ‘citizens’) emerge into the discussion with a vulnerability that constitutes new forms of legitimacy and power. Sharing a common ground and point of departure in the ongoing four-year research project ‘Research for impact – integrating research and societal impact in the humanities PhD’ (Bengtsen et al, 2020), the four presenters bring together cross-institutional and cross-country perspectives and critical discussions of the state of the humanities at universities in Denmark, Ireland, UK, and New Zealand. Hatice Nuriler will present her ongoing research into processes of student becoming as they take place in the in-between spaces amidst intersecting academic, professional, and personal contexts and realities. With inspiration from Søren Kierkegaard, Nuriler will focus on the paradox of becoming as it takes place because of (and not as a defense against) existential vulnerability. Andrew Gibson will present his ongoing research into the ontology of the humanities, arguing that the humanities can only critically develop from the middle; where social and cultural spaces open up between, and contesting the cohesion of, firmly established socio-political realities. Barbara Grant will present her ongoing research into the importance of affect and emotion as crucial fibers of knowledge and reasoning in the humanities. The notion of affect shows that reason, emotion, power, and freedom are not competing but complimentary dimensions of higher education and co-constituents of critical learning. Ronald Barnett will offer a critical argument, namely that the humanities have been all too human and require a new legitimacy. In a world that is in motion - and antagonistic motion at that - and that is radically interconnected, being human has to embrace the totality of the Earth and all of its entities. Humans share this planet not just with other humans but with all else on and in and above this Earth. The Humanities, accordingly, gain their creative and critical powers from searching for a humanity born of an Earthly interconnectedness that is shot through with dissonance. The symposium will open with a common scene-setting (by Bengtsen, for 10 minutes), whereafter each presenter will give short presentations of 10 minutes (40 minutes in total), followed by questions and comments from the audience (25 minutes), and concluding with a series of replies from the symposia members (15 minutes). |
