THE OLD BRAND NEW

A monthly lecture series in the English language in Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam revolving around the concept ‘new’ in the arts.

14 May: NEW IDEALISM

With The Otolith Group: Kodwo Eshun & Anjalika Sagar and Marianne van Kerkhoven

The everyday use of the term idealism refers to an attitude in which one acts on the basis of an unshakable belief in the possibility of a better future. In the arts an ongoing polarizing debate is taking place about the position of the artist as a recluse on the one hand and as an idealistic reformer on the other, in which one ‘practitioner’ chooses for idiosyncracy and autonomy, while the other acts as a ‘mediator’, ‘opiniator’ or activist and endeavours to express and act out a social and political commitment in his or her work. How and in which way can ‘ idealism take shape and form in contemporary artistic practice and how ‘efficient’ is that kind of striving for real change?

Tickets and reservations: available at Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, www.ssba.nl
More information: www.theoldbrandnew.nl

NEXT EDITIONS:

New Beauty 22 juni:
Marina Warner and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster
What is New? 15 september:
Dick Hebdige and Keith Sawyer