Transformation Dialogue: Disalienation and the Past

What is necessary to depart from the predetermining force of violent histories in order to imagine a different outcome? Depending on how societies maintain and understand their relationship with the past, this can foster stagnation or spark transformation toward different futures. The dialogue begins with the premise that the concept of transformation is not only relevant for grasping processes of change in the present and future: Cycles of transformation that manifest now might have begun in times long past. Returning to history can help identify the moments that enable us to decipher what we witness today. The transformative force of historical inquiry often lies in the stories it produces. The ways in which histories are narrated can result either in a logic of predetermination and powerlessness or in the discovery of unforeseen possibility. 

The dialogue will be chaired by Dr. Henrike Kohpeiß (Leuphana Transformation Lab).

Prof. Dr. Heidi Grunebaum is an author and humanities scholar specialising in aesthetics and politics. She employs aesthetic observations of artworks entangled with histories of violence in order to become attuned to moments of sensory difference. 

Dr. Elena Vogman is a writer and historian of media. She offers a perspective on multi-causal histories of transformation looking at psychoanalytic practices that take into account social and historical conditions. 

Both media and cultural studies scholars share an interest in how specific sensorial milieus allow for change to unfold and how these atmospheres can be addressed, excavated, and reproduced through aesthetic and institutional practice.

The Transformation Dialogues bring together two scholars from different disciplines to engage in conversation about how transformation is invoked today. The term is increasingly used in academia, politics, and society, yet its meaning often remains vague. This event series by the Leuphana Transformation Lab creates a space for interdisciplinary exchange, in which each scholar’s distinct research focus contributes to a vibrant discussion about transformation.

Each event features short presentations, a moderated conversation, and audience Q&A. By embracing a plurality of perspectives and allowing productive tensions to emerge, the series challenges us to think critically: What work does the term “transformation” do in contemporary discourse?

The event is open to the university community; no registration is required to attend.