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74915-01 - Seminar: Against Empathy (3 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers | Julia Rensing (julia.rensing@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Empathy is often considered key in mobilising action and activism to stop oppression, suffering and violence. But perhaps sympathising with the other – seeing and witnessing their pain – is no longer enough. Aruna D'Souza's "Imperfect Solidarities" critically scrutinises the notion of empathy and argues instead for the need and obligation to care. This course uses her book as a foundation to engage deeply with central questions in the Social Sciences and in African Studies as well as with pressing issues of the current moment in time.The role and function of images as well as the ethics of looking are core concerns in our discussions, for which we refer to seminal texts on photography such as “Regarding the Pain of Others” by Susan Sontag or Ariella Aisha Azoulay’s publications. A second focus in this seminar lies on contemporary art and the distinct ways in which artists engage with and address empathy. |
| Bibliography | selection: Aruna D'Souza: "Imperfect Solidarities" Susan Sontag: “Regarding the Pain of Others” Ariella Aisha Azoulay: “The Civil Contract of Photography” artworks examples: Lindokuhle Sobekwa Gabrielle Goliath Mary Sibande Candice Breitz |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 19.02.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 26.02.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 05.03.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 12.03.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Fasnachstferien |
| Wednesday 19.03.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 26.03.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 02.04.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 09.04.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 16.04.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 23.04.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 30.04.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 07.05.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 14.05.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 21.05.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Wednesday 28.05.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Rheinsprung 21, Seminarraum 00.004 |
| Modules |
Modul: Areas: Afrika (Master's degree program: European History in Global Perspective) Modul: Theory and General Anthropology (Master's degree subject: Anthropology) Module: Fields: Governance and Politics (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Fields: Public Health and Social Life (Master's degree program: African Studies) Module: Migration, Mobility and Transnationalism (Master's degree program: Changing Societies: Migration – Conflicts – Resources) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Zentrum für Afrikastudien |