0653 - The Art of Protest in Germany
Course Description
Artist activism might well be as old as art itself. Artists observe and often critique what they don’t like about the societies in which they live, and the distance from critique to protest can be quite short. This presentation will take a closer look at present-day Germany where artists have felt compelled to use their art, and their positions as artists, to resist an anti-democratic shift in the country’s political culture. After briefly exploring the influence of art on the development of a national memory culture after the Third Reich, our attention will turn to more recent artist activism addressing the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment, the surge in popularity of the nationalist Alternative für Deutschland (= Alternative for Germany) party, and the controversy surrounding Germany’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Specific artistic interventions in the public discourse on Germany’s democratic stability will be examined with a view to answering a key question: does artist activism provide an effective defense of German democracy?
Instructor
Prof. James Skidmore is the Chair of the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies and Director of the Waterloo Centre for German Studies, a privately endowed research institute at the University of Waterloo. He always enjoys sharing his ideas with Laurier Lifelong Learners.
Location
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Community Pavilion (101 Father David Bauer Drive, Waterloo, ON)
- Parking is free.
- Download the facility map (PDF) to find facilities and parking lots.
Notes
- Lecture Time : 130-300 pm
- Lecture Cost: $16.00 + HST
- Participants must register before the day of the lecture.
- Laurier’s online registration system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Visa Debit, and MasterCard Debit.
- You will only be able to purchase 1 seat at the time of registration. If looking to register more than 1 person, each registrant will require their own account to complete the registration.
- Lectures are non-refundable
Contact
If you have any questions please email lifelonglearning@wlu.ca.