Highlights Cultural Analysis in the Arts

Allotment garden near Frick, SNFS-Research project «Materialisierte Erinnerungen (in) der Landschaft», Photograph: Florian Wegelin, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Allotment garden near Frick, SNFS-Research project «Materialisierte Erinnerungen (in) der Landschaft», Photograph: Florian Wegelin, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

    «Criticism as situated, exploratory artistic practice in the context of societal challenges ... is what interests us in the Research Focus in Cultural Analysis in the Arts. We explore the interconnections in a theory-practice that focuses on the cultural-analytical dimension of research with aesthetic means, in short on «aesthetic practices as cultural inquiries», as the subtitle of a new publication format following the completion of the project ‹«» Insert Citation› puts it—but more about that in the forthcoming report.»

    Prof. Dr. Sigrid Adorf, Head of the Research Focus Cultural Analysis (RCA)
     

        Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact

        RCA staff was very active also during the pandemic: it published a considerable amount of research, as well as organised workshops, exhibitions and talks. Besides a series of journal publications, RCA activities in 2020 included an exhibition and a series of events titled «Über/Brücken», workshops on «artistic-ethnographic complications in the field», «ideological topologies» and «artistic forms of film education», as well as discussions with artists on «Material Transformations».

        → Overview «Scientific, Artistic and Creative Output and Impact»

          Promotion of Talents and Careers

          The RCA’s core team is developing the PhD programme Cultural Critique in cooperation with the Cultural Studies Department of Linz University of Art and Design. As part of the Zeichenwerkstatt, regular colloquia aimed at promoting young researchers were also held online due to the pandemic and enabled PhD candidates to present and discuss ongoing and prospective research. Simon Harder successfully completed his dissertation.

          → Overview «Promotion of Talents and Careers»

            Cooperation and Internationality

            The RCA expanded its cooperation for professional exchange and the planning of joint research projects with Linz University of Art and Design and began complementary discussions with researchers at Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Cooperation with Elke Bippus and her team opened up contact with the Gesellschaft für künstlerische Forschung and the HKW Berlin l.

            → Overview «Cooperation and Internationality»

              External Funding

              Funded by the SNSF and the DFG, the RCA’s three ongoing projects focus on participatory criticism, materialised memories and the artistic-scientific analysis of cultural transmission processes. Project work continued in 2020 despite coronavirus restrictions. Four dissertation projects were funded as part of the RCA’s three major projects.

              → Overview «Research Projects»

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