Past Series

By inventing we introduce disorder. Like an intellectually distant yet temporally recent utopian thought, invention deforms the existent. This deformation, on the one hand, extends from the existing and, on the other, is the haunting reflection of the non-existent: unseen, but long awaited. It is an interruption of the pleasant flow of being and time, or as Derrida sets forth, it is “the breaking of an implicit contract.” Well, if invention is the noise of its time, then what, where or who is this noise? I want to approach the concept of the “stranger-guest” within an extended understanding of the ancient Greek concept phílos or friend. Aristotle’s attempt to nest himself in his friend was nothing other than an effort to reinvent the self within the other. With Derrida, invention begins “by being susceptible to repetition, exploitation, reinscription.” Thus, the “stranger-guest” is always the invented. This i nventedness reflects an ambiguous state of being invited yet not being taken into account as a friend. As the unseen-known becomes visible, the archaic Aristotelian friendship is interrupted and noise will echo throughout the ruins of temples. Since the “stranger-guest” arrives with precipitations of centuries-old reflections, transformed attributions to the concept of friend, the host or the polítis would never have the time to be prepared. Hence, this encounter generates static. Digging into Lambert’s reading of Benveniste’s multifaceted dictionary, I will scrutinize the confrontation of the stranger-guest and the host on a spatial basis and try to understand what does the space of the other look like? Arch. Dr.phil İsben Önen is an architect, lecturer and jazz journalist. He studied architecture at Gazi University ( B.Arch), METU (M.Arch) and received his doctorate from the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. He is interested in interdisciplinary research at the interface of architecture and music, humanities and social sciences.

Throughout its lengthy history, the theatre has often been thought of as a space of community, where individuals either come together to participate in a collective experience or to witness on stage the expression of a collective identity. Yet what might it mean to think of theatre as a space of belonging? Can theatre combat alienation, cultivate one’s sense of being bound to a place, and ultimately offer inclusion in a community? In this talk, we will consider key moments from theatre history, ranging from the massive urban theatres of Ancient Greece to the melodramas of the German enlightenment, and from nineteenth-century Ottoman shadow puppetry to contemporary theatres of migration to think through theatre’s ability to cultivate belonging. Along the way, we will ask the basic questions: what does it mean to belong, and how might art participate in this elusive process? Emine Fişek is a Research Associate in the Institute for Urban and Regional Research of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. She received her PhD in Performance Studies from the University of California-Berkeley, and was previously Associate Professor in the Department of Western Languages and Literatures at Boğaziçi University. Her core research interest is in the relationship between theatre and politics, focusing on questions of urbanity, migration, and memory.

In recent decades, people have begun to move in mass(ive) numbers for various reasons: A small minority move voluntarily for better jobs and living conditions; most are forced to move involuntarily, due to reasons ranging from civil wars to climate crisis. What does it mean to belong to a country or polity in such a world of movement? How can we think of citizenship in such an environment? What effect do such movements have in the countries of emigration and immigration? In this talk, I will offer a basic introduction to these and similar questions and hope to initiate an open conversation around issues that lie at the heart of belonging. Z. Umut Türem received his PhD from the Institute of Law and Society at New York University in 2010. Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at the Atatürk Institute of Modern Turkish History at Boğazici University. His research focuses on neoliberalism, globalization, the political economy of law and regulation, and broader questions of law and society. He's currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Vienna.

This presentation explores the dual role of education in shaping the sense of belonging among migrant populations. Education is crucial for social integration, equipping migrants with the skills and resources needed to navigate new environments and fostering a sense of community. However, educational systems can also inadvertently perpetuate inequalities and exclusion, creating barriers that hinder migrant students’ experiences and sense of belonging. We will examine how education can both support and undermine migrant integration. Key issues such as language barriers, culturally irrelevant curricula, and limited access to resources often exacerbate these challenges. Furthermore, discriminatory practices and policies within schools can marginalize migrant students, affecting their academic success and overall well-being. This presentation will critically analyze the relationship between education and belonging, highlighting strategies for creating inclusive environments that promote cultural understanding, social cohesion, and a sense of community among migrant students. Conversely, we will also address how certain educational practices can perpetuate exclusion and inequalities, offering insights into how these issues might be addressed to foster a more inclusive educational experience. Filiz Keser Aschenberger is Assistant Professor in the Department for Continuing Education and Educational Technologies at the Danube University-Krems, and Adjunct Lecturer at the Educational Sciences Institute at the University of Vienna. After completing her MA degree in Adult Education from Boğazici University, Istanbul, she received her PhD in Educational Administration and Planning from the Middle East Technical University, Turkey. She is a former Fulbright Scholar who studied and conducted research at University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. She has taken part in several national/international research projects. Her research interests include adult learning and continuing education, lifelong learning, social inclusion, educational policy, and policy analysis.

Cinema and migration intersect in profound ways, offering a rich medium for storytelling that delves into the experiences of those who leave their homelands in search of better life trajectories. Films about migration often explore themes of identity, displacement, and the quest for belonging, providing a lens through which audiences can understand the complexities of the immigrant experience. These narratives can highlight the challenges migrants face, such as discrimination, language barriers, and xenophobia, while also celebrating their resilience, hope, and the vibrant diversity they bring to their new communities. By portraying the personal and collective journeys of migrants, cinema not only raises awareness but also fosters empathy and understanding toward “the migrant”. This talk titled “Cinema and Belonging: Turkish Gastarbeiters in Movies” particularly addresses several examples of the art of cinema and the Turkish migrant community as Gastarbeiters. The talk will first focus on the relationship between cinema as a genre and the theme of belonging and then it will scrutinize the theme of Gastarbeiter via several exemplary movies. Ece Cihan Ertem is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna, Department of Educational Sciences and conducts research in the field of educational sociology. Ertem is also interested in the interaction of art ( particularly cinema and literature) and politics and has previously lectured on topics revolving around cinema and society. She completed her PhD at the Atatürk Institute at Boğaziçi University and at Aarhus University.