WS: Posthumanist Feminism and the Human

Posthumanism encompasses a broad spectrum of critical perspectives that categorically question classic humanist understandings of the human being. Especially the frequently cited “Vitruvian Man” – white, male, able-bodied, idealized as an individual, etc. – serves as a shorthand marker to designate a conception of humankind that is no longer able to formulate any persuasive claims to universality. Posthumanist approaches are interested in addressing the categorical relationship between human beings (in their plurality) and “technology” on the one hand, “nature” on the other. “Technology” and “nature, in traditional humanism, have emerged as central categories because they designated the paradigmatically non-human and thus helped specify, though contrast, that which was deemed characteristically human.  In this, posthumanist approaches attempt a different, more organic relationship between human being(s) and the world.

In feminist discourses, such relational approaches have been established for decades, though the focus on analysis is often different in important ways. This workshop seeks to bring into conversation feminist, posthumanist, and feminist-posthumanist approaches. To allow intensive discussion of these contributions, four texts will be covered in depth. These texts will be suggested and briefly introduced by presenters, and discussed at length by the group. The aim of the workshop is to understand the basic ideas of these critical perspectives, to compare different research interests that correspond with different theoretical approaches, and to critically reflect on the unspoken premises of the arguments under discussion.

Required Readings:

Karen Barad: “Posthumanist Performativity: Toward an Understanding of How Matter Comes to Matter” (Oliver Klaassen)

Rosi Braidotti: extracts from The Posthuman (Carmen Birkle / Johanna Heil)

Callus, Herbrechter & Rossini: “Introduction: Dis/Locating Posthumanism in European Literary and Critical Traditions” (Greta Olson / Sonja Schillings)

Sylyia Wynter: extracts from “Unsettling the Coloniality of Being/Power/Truth/Freedom: Towards the Human, After Man, Its Overrepresentation—An Argument” (Lea Hülsen)

Optional Reading:

Judith Helberstam & Ira Livingston: "Introduction: Posthuman Bodies"

 // Prof. Dr. Greta Olson

    Prof. Dr. Carmen Birkle (Philipps-Universität Marburg)

    Dr. Sonja Schillings