A conference organized by Hannah Voegele, Henrike Kohpeiß und Jandra Böttger.
How do societies respond to unfolding catastrophes—and why, in the face of global crises, do denial, ignorance, and social numbness so often prevail? The conference is dedicated to the affective, political, and social dynamics of the current polycrisis—ranging from the ecological crisis imbued with colonial continuities to the rise of brutal wars where imperial logics meet new technology. The conference explores the question of which social structures enable perception and solidarity, and which produce forms of emotional numbing.
Building on Affect Theory and critical analyses of late-capitalist societies, renowned affect theorists such as Hannah Proctor and Billy Holzberg, the philosopher Juliane Rebentisch, the historian Anna Parkinson as well as other international scholars, will discuss historical and contemporary forms of violence, denial, and societal desensitization. Inspired by Walter Benjamin’s statement, “That things continue as they are is the catastrophe,” the conference examines the persistence of historical relations of violence in the present.
The two-day program includes lectures and discussions on affective dynamics of solidarity and revenge, political perception in the context of war and authoritarianism, the emotional infrastructures of current crises, and apocalyptic techno-utopias. The workshop opens a space for interdisciplinary exchange on political responsibility, perception, and solidarity in times of catastrophe.
Please register via email: j.onstad@fu-berlin.de
Time & Location
Jun 11, 2026 - Jun 12, 2026
Freie Universität Berlin
Rost- und Silberlaube
Habelschwerdter Allee 45
Room L115 (Seminarzentrum)