SoSe 2019 | Cultural Poetics as Dramaturgy

In June the research project Zirkus | Wissenschaft opened its doors for the firstever Residency for contemporary circus artists at the University of Münster. Its aim was to open the dialogue between artistic practise and academic reflection by combining an academic masterclass with an artist residency. During the residency, the artists of the Tall Tales Compagny colaborated with students specialized in the analysis of cultural representations. Within five days, the Tall Tales received feedback on their 'in-progress' piece entitled 'Square One' to which they could react immediately and further develop the work in collaboration with the students. At the end of the residency there was a work-in-progress presentation in which both, students and artists, reported on their experiences.

The seminar was accompanied by documentary film makers. The resulting short film Reading Circus. Dramaturgy on the Border Between Art and Academia is currently touring circus festivals and serves as a starting point for the event series 'Semiotics Matters!', which was awarded a price of the University of Münster in 2019.