140121 VO VM1 / VM7 - Coloniality under De_Construction (2017S)

Throughout the lecture series we want to explore, through the participation of various speakers, activists, and collectives, to what extent (post-)colonial structures continue to be reproduced in the present day and how these can be reflected, changed and overcome from a decolonial, power-critical and intersectional perspective.

The term “coloniality” denotes a global structure, which, despite the waves of formal independence of former colonies, is still present today and is still shaping the dominant economic, political, and epistemic relations and depictions of the world. When we speak of and about coloniality, we are not referring to abstract theoretical concepts or imaginary “exotic” places. Colonial structures are still “under construction” and manifest as well as materialize themselves in various ways and manners, for example: in forms of everyday-racism, by which racialized people are daily affected; through the de-legitimisation of non-Western forms of knowledge and knowledge-organisation; in sexist and trans*phobic policies and in the international labour division, which was formed by European colonial expansion. Through colonialism, the opposition between the white, male, heterosexual subject (imagined as a confident, sovereign individual) and the colonised "Other" was violently codified in discourse and determines power relations and thinking patterns on a global scale. The dominant writing of history is shaped by this white, male, respectively Western point of view and represents a historiography about the “Others,” who have been made silent. This is in contrast to movements and struggles against coloniality, which were always active and continue to be fought today.

In this semester important terms and theories for the examination of coloniality and decolonial perspectives will be introduced. Space will also be opened up for current decolonial initiatives and activisms. With this lecture series, we hope to promote reflection on how we ourselves are positioned in a (post-)colonial world, which colonial continuities are being reproduced in Vienna, in Austria and within ourselves. Who, how and what can we un_learn, can be un_learnt?

The lecture series is divided into five thematic blocks. Following a theoretical and terminological introduction, the second block centres around the de_coloniality of bodies and sexualities. A third block engages with academic and urban spaces. Subsequently, decolonial methods relating to empirical research, political theatre, as well as Black Austrian History are introduced. The last block will address the (im)possibilities of decolonial approaches to political-economy. The final lecture will presumably centre around queer-feminist migrant activism and the critical appropriation of language in Austria. Furthermore, there will be room for open questions and a summary.