Theory: Art Histories: Art & Manifestos (gLV) 

This seminar explores the ground-breaking Manifestos of Modernism, their language and western/euro-centric and patriarchal tendencies. In the 21st century we are witnessing a resurgence of manifestos with cross-over agendas into environmentalism, post-humanism, queer, and feminist discourses.

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Nummer und TypBFA-BFA-Th.22F.008 / Moduldurchführung
ModulTheorie 
VeranstalterDepartement Fine Arts
LeitungAnke Kempkes
Anzahl Teilnehmendemaximal 7
ECTS3 Credits
VoraussetzungenCourse language: English
ZielgruppenBA Fine Arts students
Open for exchange students

Interested BA students of other study programmes can register from 01 to 20 February 2022 by ClickEnroll; https://intern.zhdk.ch/?ClickEnroll

Interested MA students write an email between 01 to 20 February 2022 to: studium.dfa@zhdk.ch
We will inform you by e-mail in CW 8 whether participation is possible.
Applications before 01 February 2022 will not be accepted.
Lernziele / Kompetenzen20th and 21st Century Art History, Modernism, Postmodernism, Avant-Garde Theory, Art Criticism
Inhalte“Short, spirited, and straddling the boundary between theory and practice, the manifesto communicates an exceptional break with the past and a crisis in the narratives of progress. Manifestos interrupt the steady flow of history and provide a useful frame for rereading modernism in terms of its performative elements of community formation and historical agency in the present moment.” (Laura Winkiel, Modernism, Race and Manifestos, Cambridge, 2008)
We will explore the ground-breaking Manifestos of Modernism -Futurism, Neoplasticism, Constructivism, Concrete Art, Surrealism, Magic Realism, Minimalism, Concept Art, among others. We will analyse their language and politics, while developing a critical and expansive perspective on their western/euro-centric and patriarchal tendencies.
We will further ask: What is a manifesto in the 21st century, an era of tremendous social shifts? With movements such as MeToo, Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ rights, proclamations of beliefs have become widespread vernacular. We are currently witnessing a resurgence of manifestos and theoretical promulgations; however, these are mostly driven from a queer positive, inclusive, and feminist discourse, as opposed to the language of traditional manifestos, a genre associated with an avant-garde history dominated by male practitioners. Today cultural manifesto cross-over into alliances with environmentalism, post-humanism, capitalism, and address agendas like xenophobia, race, and class.
Examples are Donna Haraway’s “A Cyborg Manifesto”, ‘XenoFeminism: A Politics for Alienation’ by Laboria Cuboniks; ‘Glitch Feminism, A Manifesto’ by Legacy Russell; ‘My Collectible As’ by McKenzie.


Anke Kempkes (*1968) is an international Curator, Scholar and Art Critic based in Switzerland and specialized on Feminist and Performance Art History, Avant-Garde and Queer Theory. In 2004 she held the position of Chief Curator at Kunsthalle Basel, CH. From 2005-17 she ran an independent curatorial space, research centre and gallery in New York dedicated to Female Avant-Garde. Since 2021 she is Director of Instituto Susch and Curator at Large at the Muzeum Susch, Switzerland.
Bibliographie / LiteraturWill be handed out during the course
Leistungsnachweis / TestatanforderungMandatory attendance (minimum 80%); active participation
TermineTime: 09:15 - 17:00 o'clock

CW 20: 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 May
Bewertungsformbestanden / nicht bestanden
Termine (5)