Workshop at the University of Vienna
April 28th, 2022 (evening): Keynote Lecture by Maria do Mar Pereira, PhD MSc. (University of Warwick)
April 29th, 2022 (full day): Workshop Day with Mag. Dr. Cornelia Schadler (University of Vienna) and Mag. Dr. Katharina Wiedlack (University of Vienna)
This workshop is aimed at PhD researchers from different disciplines. Together, we want to engage in exploring ideas of knowledge beyond mainstream, canonical ideas, and deepen our understanding of how we, as academic researchers, can grasp and create interdisciplinary knowledge. Since the affective turn in the social and cultural sciences, the conceptualization of ratio and emotion as two different spheres has been contested in multiple ways. Cognition and knowledge are no longer limited to rationality and reason, and various scholars highlight that knowledge has embodied, experienced and felt dimensions. We want to take up this strand of research and explore the multiple (im-)possibilities of cognition and knowledge in creative and innovative ways. As we believe knowledge can help to overcome hierarchical power asymmetries, in our workshop, we especially aim to engage with critical epistemologies in order to deconstruct powerful binaries. A special focus will be on affective queerfeminist, decolonial and intersectional epistemologies.
Structure of the workshop
The workshop will consist of three parts: The first part will be an introductory public lecture by Maria do Mar Pereira, PhD MSc. (University of Warwick) in the evening of the 2nd of December. The second and the third part, a morning session and an afternoon session on December 3rd, offer theoretical input on queerfeminist, decolonial and intersectional epistemologies and methodologies. These sessions will be hosted by Mag. Dr. Cornelia Schadler (University of Vienna) and Mag. Dr. Katharina Wiedlack (University of Vienna). We will make sure to provide space for participants to discuss the epistemological and methodological challenges posed by their own projects.
Depending on the sanitary conditions in December, the keynote lecture will either take place in person and will be shared online, or it will take place online altogether. The workshop day on December 3rd is planned to take place in person at the University of Vienna, based on a safe hygiene plan. If new restrictions due to the pandemic will prevent us from meeting in person, the workshop will be held online.
Due to generous funding from the Faculty of Social Sciences, the research platform GAIN, the Vienna Doctoral School of Philosophy (VDP) and the Institute of Philosophy, a budget has been allocated to cover travel costs and accommodation for a limited number of participants from outside Vienna or Austria. Food will be provided during the workshop day, and there will be a communal dinner.
We encourage the application of PhD students at different stages of their dissertation. It is important that you want to critically reflect on knowledge production in the context of your PhD project, and that you would like to discuss this in the workshop.
To apply, please send a letter of motivation (max. 300 words), which details why you want to participate in the workshop, and any pre-existing knowledge you possess on the topic. Make sure to highlight the epistemological and methodological challenges of your current research project that you would like to tackle during the workshop. Please also include a short biographical note and send all in one pdf document to: queerepistemology.gain@univie.ac.at until October 24th, 2021.
Due to the limited number of participants the workshop is designed for (max.20), we will get back to you with confirmations/rejections and further information in the beginning of November.
We are looking forward to your applications!
The organizers
Giulia Andrighetto, Flora Löffelmann, Verena Kettner
A collaboration with the Researchplatform GAIN, the Department of Philosophy, the Department of Political Science, the Referat Genderforschung and the Research Group Gender and Politics at the University of Vienna.
