AFFECT, POLITICS & RELIGION
Workshop for advanced MA & PhD students
Religion is arguably the most socially and politically consequential domain in the regulation of cultural diversity in Western liberal democracies today. Religious difference evokes heated debates in secular public spheres, challenges not only ideas and practices of solidarity, but also of tolerance and identity.
This workshop postulates the idea that we can only understand these phenomena if we take the affective and emotional dimensions of these social processes seriously. We will therefore explore how we can theorize and study affect and emotions to better understand current interplays of politics with a variety of inequalities such as religion and racism. Throughout the workshop we will read, discuss and reflect on different theoretical and methodological perspectives from cultural studies to social sciences to ask how a social relational account of affect can inform our own research projects.
The two and a half day workshop is designed to provide an cooperative setting for up to 12 participants to read and discuss texts. Our aim is (1) to scrutinise current theoretical perspectives on affect with regard to inequalities, religion and the political; (2) to understand how these intertwined concepts can be approached methodologically in empirical research; (3) to guide participants in advancing their own knowledge and research of affect both theoretically and methodologically. The sessions include the following topics: Affect as a Social Relational Phenomenon, Affect and Theories of Democracy, Affect and Populism, Affect and Racism, Affect and the Secular, Affect and Religious Lives in the Nordic Countries, Methodological Perspectives on Affect.
We approach these topics by reading assigned texts and by discussing them with the authors via Skype.
If desired, opportunties to present and get feedback on own research projects will be provided.
The workshop will be held by the sociologists Aletta Diefenbach and Dr. Antje Kahl from the Collaborative Research Center (CRC) “Affectives Societies”, Freie Universität Berlin.
The workshop is organized by the Musuem of Jón Sigurðsson at Hrafnseyri, Island and Jón Sigurðsson Professorship at the University of Iceland, Reykjavík, with the CRC “Affectives Societies”, Freie Universität Berlin.
Application Process
Applicants should be advanced MA or PhD students in the field of humanities, law or social sciences. The workshop will take place in English, thus a good command of English is required. To apply, please send a CV and a brief (max. one page) letter of interest. In your letter of interest, please consider addressing the following questions:
- What is your motivation to participate in the workshop?
- How does the topic(s) of the workshop relate to your (research) interests and/or your study program?
Deadline for applications is Sunday, March 29th, 2020.
Applicants will be informed about the decision by April 5th, 2020 at the latest.
The workshop is free of charge, as well as the sleeping facilities and transport from Reykjavík to the Museum of Jón Sigurðsson and back. Participants will have to pay 18.000 Isl. kr. per person (130,61 Eur) for their food during the workshop.
For application submission or further questions please contact Valdimar J. Halldórsson: hrafnseyri@hrafnseyri.is