Prof. Dr. Boyan Manchev / Chantal Mouffe
The World must be Romanticised
Lecture and seminar series in English, 2 SWS, 2 ECTS
Wednesday-Friday, 20.-22.4.2016; Wednesday-Thursday, 27.-28.4.2016 and 29.-30.6.2016, HZT Uferstudios, studio 8 and 9 (tbc)

The task of this lecture series is to approach not only the aesthetic dimensions of Novalis’ thesis but also its broader philosophical and political perspective, thus revealing what was profoundly at stake with the Romantic revolution of Art, the analogue of the French revolution for modern history. Are we still acting today in accordance with the Romantic desire for transformation of the world? What is its legacy and metamorphosis in the present day? The lecture series will convey leading political philosophers and art theorists in the attempt to formulate possible perspectives for answering these questions.  

20.-22. April
Chantal Mouffe & Boyan Manchev on Agonism and Transformation
Boyan Manchev (opening): "Agon and Transformation"
Chantal Mouffe: "The role of affects in agonistic politics"
lecture (20. April, 18-20h30, HZT Uferstudios, studio 9)
seminar (21.-22. April, 13-17 h) with Chantal Mouffe and Boyan Manchev 

The agonistic theory of politics and art of one of the leading political philosophers today, Chantal Mouffe (whose work, besides of being major point of reference for the left political movements in Latin America and Europe, is a direct source of inspiration for many artists and art forums), is facing the challenges of political transformation. How and why could political "agon" and "agon" as artistic strategy provoke movement and transformation instead of ending up in "stasis" and immobility?

27.-28. April
Boyan Manchev: “The Last Romantic”
lecture (27. April, 18-20h30, HZT Uferstudios, studio 8)
seminar (28. April, 13-17 h) 

29.-30. June
Esa Kirkkopelto: “Non-Human Performances and Humanitary Crisis”
lecture (29. June, 18-20h30, HZT Uferstudios, studio n.n.)
seminar (30. June, 13-17 h) with Esa Kirkkopelto and Boyan Manchev 

Leistungsanforderungen für den unbenoteten Studium-Generale-Schein: The students are expected to attend regularly.

Prof. Dr. Boyan Manchev is philosopher, Professor at the New Bulgarian University and Guest Professor at the HZT - UdK (from 2011), Hollins University, Tokyo University and Sofia University. He is also former Director of Program and Vice-President of the International College of Philosophy in Paris. His actual research, which advances the perspective of a radical mobilism and materialism, is focused on the fields of ontology, philosophy of art and political philosophy. The ontological concept of metamorphosis, the practical concept of disorganisation and the aesthetic concept of alteration are central for his transformationist approach. In the last years Manchev collaborates often to theatre, contemporary dance and visual arts projects. Manchev is the author of seven books and more than hundred book chapters, catalogues and other publications in various languages. In the last years appeared “Logic of the Political“ (Sofia: Critique&Humanism, 2012), “Miracolo“ (Milano: Lanfranchi, 2011), “L’altération du monde: Pour une esthétique radicale“ (Paris: Lignes, 2009); “La Métamorphose et l'Instant – Désorganisation de la vie“ (Paris: La Phocide, 2009); “Rue Descartes 64: La métamorphose“, ed. by B. Manchev (Paris: PUF, 2009); “Rue Descartes 67: Quel sujet du politique?“, ed. by G. Basterra, R. Ivekovic and B. Manchev (Paris: PUF, 2010). His book “The Body-Metamorphosis“ (Sofia: Altera, 2007) deals extensively with contemporary art, performance and dance.