Waffles and Coffee: Making a difference? The Wutbürger vs Public Scrutiny

TAKT Academy and Contemporary Art Exchange are collaborating to present the next in the Waffles and Coffee discussion group series – Making a difference? The Wutbürger vs Public Scrutiny.

April 24^th 7-9pm at TAKT Kunstprojektraum
Weserstrasse 11, 10247 Berlin
Cost: By donation

With the recent action of artists boycotting the Sydney Biennale over its unethical sponsorship from Transfield Holding and as we draw nearer to Berlin’s annual May 1^st protests, our first edition of Waffles and Coffee for 2014 examines the role of protest in the arts and wider society. How are we all part of the bigger picture? Can our individual choices make a difference?

Does changing your bank, boycotting cultural events sponsored by “evil” corporations or other protest actions actually change things? And does digital culture feed protest responses (aka “shitstorms”) by making it easier to protest, thus creating the “Wutbürger” (the angry citizen)? Or are we simply living in an individualistic society, where it has become the norm to give anyone we dislike the middle finger?

We want to discuss with you what you think the role of each of us is in shaping the world we live in!

About Waffles and Coffee

 “Waffle” can be defined as both the delicious sweet desert we are all familiar with but also as “to talk or write a lot without giving any useful information or any clear answers”(http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/waffle_1 )

…we thought we’d do both. And wash it down with some coffee.

Waffles and Coffee is a series of Discussion Groups organised by Contemporary Art Exchange (CAE) – Australian curator and arts educator Kate Martin and German psychology student and photographer David Brehme.

Waffles and Coffee explores the intersection of contemporary art and broader societal issues. It seeks to combine Kate’s current research interests in nationalism, cultural identity and globalisation with David’s interests in critical psychology, politics, economics and just about anything else that makes headlines.

So come and join us for an informal discussion, exchange, chat, or ‘waffle’ if you will. You don’t have to be an academic or an artist – anyone from any background or discipline is welcome. We’ve posted up some articles and video clips we think are relevant (but are in no way obligatory). Feel free to add to the list too.

http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au/blog/2014/03/03/related-links-biennale-boycott/

http://www.discipline.net.au/Discipline/Biennale_of_Sydney_2014.html

http://www.theartnewspaper.com/articles/Petition-to-move-Manifesta-biennial-from-St-Petersburg-hits–supporters/30217

http://gothamist.com/2014/03/30/video_protesters_shower_guggenheim.php