Private Events and Public History

A workshop for students with the artist Petra Bauer and the philosopher Annika Ruth Persson

During the day we will use selected texts and films as a starting point for a discussion on the individual’s role in public history and the ways in which the private relates to the public.
We will expound on thoughts about the private and the political sphere by studying a few passages from The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt. Hannah Arendt emphasizes the importance of participating in the political sphere on equal terms. She claims that the presence of others who see what we see and hear what we hear assures us of the reality of the world and ourselves.
But what is meant by public sphere? Does everybody have access to the public sphere? Are there various public and political spheres? Together with the workshop participants we will consider and discuss alternative strategies for active participation and resistance within a political sphere.

Literature and films

Prior to the workshop participants should read "Private Events Public History: A Conversation between Petra Bauer and Annika Ruth Persson."
During the workshop we will examine short passages from The Human Condition and Rahel Varnhagen by Hannah Arendt. For this reason, we recommend that workshop participants prepare themselves by reading the chapter “The Public and the Private Realm” in The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt. The book is available in both German and English.
We will screen excerpts from the films Rana (2007, Petra Bauer), All the Things I Need to Learn… (2005, Petra Bauer and Annette Krauss), and Female Fist 20 Min (2005, Kajsa Dahlberg).

Annika Ruth Persson is an author and translator. Amongst other works, she has translated Hannah Arendt’s Between Past and Future into Swedish. Her last book is about a group of women who share flats and film projects.

Petra Bauer is an artist. “I work by exploring the possibilities of conceptual documentary. My works often consist of filmic revision and investigation of other people’s stories. In my films I connect individual fates with general occurrences in society. Therefore, ethical issues are always present in the statements of witnesses and in the overall documentary.”

Adress:

Muthesius Kunsthochschule
Lorentzendamm 6-8
D-24103 Kiel
Telefon: +49 (0)431/5198-400
Fax: +49 (0)431/5198-408
www.muthesius-kunsthochschule.de