080003 PS Case Study II/III: Art as Soft Power (2024W)

Course Content
This course focuses on the period from 1947 to 1991 and examines how global perspectives and the interactions between politics and culture were shaped against the backdrop of the Cold War. The roles and contributions of states, cultural institutions, and individual actors are central to our study.

We will engage with the concepts of Soft Power, cultural diplomacy, and propaganda, analyzing their significance in the global context of the Cold War. A key theme is the question of how the “cultural Cold War” was conducted and what dynamics drove the global battle for “hearts and minds.” We will be particularly interested in the role of visual arts in this process and the new perspectives they offer for research in a field traditionally dominated by political science.

Throughout the course, we will explore theoretical approaches to Socialist Internationalism and Socialist Realism, investigating how these ideas manifested in various cultural forms. At the same time, we will shed light on the influential discourses of the time, such as the debates surrounding decolonization.

Our investigation covers multiple perspectives: We analyze the interactions between the states of the Eastern European bloc and the role of exhibitions—whether through traveling exhibitions within the bloc, anthropological art exhibitions in the Eastern Bloc, export exhibitions for the West, or major international events like world fairs. We will also closely examine the specific actors of this period, including artists, art students, and artists’ associations.

Geographically, the focus is on the former Eastern European bloc, but examples from the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly from the former Yugoslavia, will also be included. The course is interdisciplinary, incorporating anthropological, sociological, urbanistic, and design-related concepts and themes. Knowledge of a relevant regional language is welcomed.

Objectives
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
a) Identify the era of the Cold War in terms of time and geography, and recognize and interpret the different cultural roles of the main actors;
b) Extract, connect, and critically analyze information and perspectives on Cold War cultural diplomacy from secondary sources;
c) Identify common narratives (West-East) and critically question them in order to independently adopt further perspectives;
d) Understand the complexity of cultural diplomacy and the intricate relationships between policymaking, institutions, and individuals within the context of cultural diplomacy;
e) Independently identify and critically evaluate current examples;
f) Express their own opinions and hypotheses, both orally and in writing, based on the theoretical framework provided.

Teaching and Learning Methods
Students will begin with independent reading, followed by a group discussion of the specialized literature in the course. Methods that encourage active participation from all students will be employed, such as guided reading with specific questions, small group discussions, and subsequent plenary discussions. Additionally, we will visit a cultural institution together and/or engage in a joint discussion with an expert. As per the curriculum, a presentation and the completion of a paper are mandatory. After the oral presentations, students will be trained in both giving and receiving academic feedback, refining their ability to formulate precise questions.