Open workshop, cooperation between Södertörn University and Freie Universität Berlin.Exploring denialism from political, aesthetic and philosophical points of view.

”Denialism” is a contemporary disease. Closely related to conspiracy theories, but spiralling into a sphere of its own, overtaking populism as a major political force targeting dominating social and political structures.
But what is “denial”? The concept’s political connotations have increased in recent times, but the range of phenomena which can be examined through its semantic and connotative meaning is both heterogenous and vivid. “Denial” is a concept that is, not least, poignant in the history of aesthetics, literature and philosophy. It can be interpreted to connote for example negation, dissent or repudiation: of appearances, forms, or representations, but also of traditions and cultural hierarchies. In psychoanalysis “denial” refers to the workings of the unconscious, having effects on the development on the subject, and the process of symbolization.
This workshop endeavours to address the concept of “denial” from multifaceted points of view, offering a much needed occasion to engage in one of the most poignant concepts of our times.

Thursday 10 March 13-17.15, Södertörn University F11

13.00-14.00 Judith Kasper, Professor of Comparative Literature, Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main, “Albertine's Kettle Logic and Marcel’s Delusional Jealousy: Thoughts on the Dynamics of Denial in Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu.”

14.15- 15.15 Jan Lietz, Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School for Literary Studies at Freie Universität Berlin: “The Dialectics of Reality as a Dialectics of Denial. Aspects of Alexander Kluge’s notion of ›Haltung‹”.

15.30-16.30 Marcia Sá Cavalcante Schuback, Professor of philosophy, Södertörn University: “To belie”

16.45-17.15 Kim West,PhD in Aesthetics: "Now What Should We Do." Peter Weiss’s Commissioned Films, 1957-1961.

Friday 11 March F 11
10.00-11.00 Ulrika Björk, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Södertörn University: Reintegrating the Past: Sabina Spielrein’s Theory of Individuation.
11.15- 12.15 Sven-0lov Wallenstein, Professor of Philosophy, Södertörn University: “Negation, Negativity, and Nothingness in Hegel’s Logic.”
12.15-13.15 Lunch

13.15-14.15 Cecilia Sjöholm, Professor of Aesthetics, Södertörn University: “No Conscience in our Times? Artwashing and other denials of conscience.”

14.30-15.30 Samo Tomšič, Professor of philosophy at the University of Fine Arts Hamburg: “No Such Thing as Society? On Neoliberal Political Denialism.”

15.45-16.45 Wolfgang Hottner, PhD Peter Szondi Institute for Comparative Literature Freie Universität Berlin: “Untrue. Reflections on Denial and Negativity".