Global Resonances in Brandenburg: Studying Sounds and Silences in Landscapes, Collections, and Other Living Archives - Einzelansicht

This master seminar delves into the complex interplay of sound and silence as cultural and historical phenomena, focusing on Brandenburg as a case study. By examining landscapes, collections, and other living archives, we explore how local and global histories resonate through sensory experiences. Brandenburg’s unique position as a cultural crossroad provides fertile ground for investigating how sounds—from natural environments to curated museum exhibits—reflect broader global movements, colonialisms, and cultural exchanges. At the same time, silences, omissions, and erasures tell their own stories, challenging traditional archival practices and highlighting what remains unheard or unseen.
Through interdisciplinary approaches rooted in cultural studies, students will engage with a variety of methodologies, from soundscapes and oral histories to critical analysis of collections and heritage sites. The seminar will encourage students to consider how global histories are embedded in the local, how different forms of knowledge are preserved or lost, and how sound and silence can be mobilized as tools of memory, resistance, and identity.
Students will also have the opportunity to participate in fieldwork, including visits to local archives, museums, and landscapes, enhancing their understanding of how cultural resonances are constructed, contested, and experienced. The seminar ultimately aims to foster critical thinking about the connections between place, memory, and the often-overlooked auditory dimensions of history and culture.

Introductory Session (obligatory) 22 October, 16:00-18:00 (participation via zoom is possible, but only at this date)
Block 1 ”Discussion of aspects of sound and silence in landscapes, collections, and other living archives & introduction to fieldwork practices”: 1 November, 13:00-17:00 & 2 November, 10:00-16:00
10 November, 10:00-13:00 Excursion to DAS MINSK (Potsdam), participation in workshop THE SOUND OF DAS MINSK & OF NOAH DAVIS’ WORKS, https://dasminsk.de/en/calendar/5608/soundworkshop_noah_davis
Block 2 ”Global Resonances in Brandenburg – project presentations” 22 November, 13:00-17:00 & 23 November, 10:00-16:00

For any querise please contact Dr Carla Maier at carla.maier.1@uni-potsdam.de