070253 SE SE Seminar (PM 3) (2018S)

This research seminar aims at familiarizing students with recent developments in the study of material culture by taking under scrutiny objects produced, used and/or promoted by far-right organizations and activists. In so doing, the course combines an investigation of two highly relevant research areas – an analysis of material cultures and historical-ethnographic insights into far-right movements - which have been rapidly developing but which have rarely been analyzed jointly. In addition to constituting very important research areas, studies of these fields shed light on current socio-political developments in East Central Europe and beyond.

In recent decades, new forms of communication and technological progress have been accompanied by a renewed interest in how people make and exchange, interact with and are influenced by objects. And recent events – conflicts in the Middle East, the “refugee crisis,” economic instability, electoral successes of right-wing populist politicians – have contributed to the increasing activity of (far-)right groups and parties. Brought together, these phenomena encourage an exploration of a series of issues, all of which will be addressed during our seminar:

· What common patterns, symbols and iconographies are reflected in far-right material culture?

· What is specific about new radical right's material culture and to what extent does the new right draw on past far-right culture (e.g. fascism, Nazism)?

· To what extent do different national far-right movements exchange/borrow elements from other kindred groups?

· What is the place of far-right culture in the mainstream discourse and public sphere?

The research seminar will be accompanied by are series of lectures by internationally renowned experts in the field of material and visual culture, neo-nationalism and far-right movements. The lecture series is made possible through a grant from the ERSTE Foundation (ERSTE Stiftung).

Language of instruction: English

Seminar requirements:

* regular attendance

* active participation in the seminar and external research activities (museum workshop)

* research paper

This research seminar aims at familiarizing students with recent developments in the study of material culture by taking under scrutiny objects produced, used and/or promoted by far-right organizations and activists. In so doing, the course combines an investigation of two highly relevant research areas – an analysis of material cultures and historical-ethnographic insights into far-right movements - which have been rapidly developing but which have rarely been analyzed jointly. In addition to constituting very important research areas, studies of these fields shed light on current socio-political developments in East Central Europe and beyond.
In recent decades, new forms of communication and technological progress have been accompanied by a renewed interest in how people make and exchange, interact with and are influenced by objects. And recent events – conflicts in the Middle East, the “refugee crisis,” economic instability, electoral successes of right-wing populist politicians – have contributed to the increasing activity of (far-)right groups and parties. Brought together, these phenomena encourage an exploration of a series of issues, all of which will be addressed during our seminar:
- What common patterns, symbols and iconographies are reflected in far-right material culture?
- What is specific about new radical right's material culture and to what extent does the new right draw on past far-right culture (e.g. fascism, Nazism)?
- To what extent do different national far-right movements exchange/borrow elements from other kindred groups?
- What is the place of far-right culture in the mainstream discourse and public sphere?

The research seminar will be accompanied by lectures by internationally renowned experts in the field of material/visual culture, neo-nationalism and far-right activism.