Back
Temporary

Kunst-Polit-Mobil: Lessons on political seductionSusi Rogenhofer

Kunst-Polit-Mobil: Lessons on political seduction

This autumn, Public Art Vienna is launching the artistic education format “WIR MÜSSEN REDEN” ("WE HAVE TO TALK"), in which artists enter into conversation with people in public spaces in a low-threshold manner. The aim is to give art an active role in shaping the city and its identity and to (re)activate the function of public space as a place of cultural and socio-political discourse.

The first project in the series is the artistic-scientific event by artist Susi Rogenhofer. Under the title “Kunst-Polit-Mobil: Lessons on political seduction”, she will spend an afternoon tackling the topics of populism, conspiracy rhetoric and demagogic narratives. In the immediate run-up to the 2024 National Council elections, these mechanisms will be publicly discussed and deconstructed together with academics, artists and citizens in the form of a discursive installation.

“Kunst-Polit-Mobil: Lessons on political seduction” at Meidlinger Platzl is based on an election campaign event. In front of a mobile stage, beer tables invite you to linger. The beer tables are covered with tablecloths made of fabrics with patterns from different cultures. Free drinks are served. A two-part film by Rogenhofer will be shown on two screens on construction fences in the direction of Niederhofstraße: One screen shows crowds of people in different contexts, such as events or demonstrations, while the second screen shows portraits of different people living in Austria. “Who are the people?” asks the artist and ‘Is there such a thing as THE people?’.

Walter Ötsch and Andreas Peham will discuss the topics of populism and demagogy under the moderation of Sebastian Panny.

Betina Aumair leads a workshop on conspiracy theories. Details on the content:

“Do you believe in the truth? DIY on conspiracy narratives”
A workshop for anyone who wants to know how conspiracy narratives work and why they are so attractive to populists.

“Uncertain times favor the emergence of conspiracy narratives. In a way, they make our lives easier because they offer supposed explanations and answers to complex issues and thus restore a degree of certainty. However, conspiracy narratives are more than just curious fantasies; with their black-and-white thinking and enemy stereotypes, they pose a threat to democracy. It is not for nothing that conspiracy narratives are so attractive to (right-wing) populist parties and movements.
Conspiracy myths are neither complicated nor elaborate, because they always consist of the same ingredients. We will find out exactly what the ingredients are and how conspiracy narratives work by creating conspiracy narratives ourselves. But with the rules of the game: no insults, no hurtful language, no group-related misanthropy - because we don't want to play into the hands of populism, but rather reveal how (right-wing) populism and conspiracy narratives work together.” (Betina Aumair)

Location

Meidlinger Platzl, 1120 Vienna

Further Information

Betina Aumair: adult education with a focus on the prevention of radicalization and extremism

Sebastian Panny: journalist at MOMENT Magazine

Andreas Peham: employee of the DÖW - Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance, research, monitoring and documentation in the field of right-wing extremism and action against anti-Semitism

Susi Rogenhofer: visual artist, electronic musician, cultural worker, art and culture mediator, DJ (for example under the synonym Sweet Susie), club organizer, board member of IG Kultur Wien

Walter Ötsch: professor of Economics and Cultural History at Hochschule für Gesellschaftsgestaltung (HfGG) Koblenz, co-author with Nina Horaczek of the book “Populismus für Anfänger. Anleitung zur Volksverführung” ("Populism for beginners. Instructions for seducing the people")

Back
Temporary

Kunst-Polit-Mobil: Lessons on political seductionSusi Rogenhofer

Time Period

September 28, 2024

U6 Niederhofstraße

Education - Events