Timeline

Friendly Fire

Berliner Gazette Annual Conference

Die Konferenzsprache ist englisch:

Conflicts have been flaring up with exceptional heat recently. Exploiting this trend, right-wing populisms are promoting escapism and warmongering – thereby priming failed citizens and failed states. In contrast, the FRIENDLY FIRE conference wishes to explore how we could embrace conflicts in order to make societies more democratic.To begin with, the project asks: What is it for any person to become a citizen, today? What is it for citizens and non-citizens alike to become political actors in fields of dissent?

Every Conference day, is a workshop day and concludes with public talks.  
For workshop details please check: https://berlinergazette.de/friendly-fire

 

Thursday | Nov. 2 | 7:30 p.m.
Are digital non-/citizens the status quo?

 

Are Digital Non-/Citizens the Status Quo? Two prolific speakers will look for answers: the artist James Bridle, whose visionary project "Citizen Ex" reflects digital citizenship and the political thinker Eleanor Saitta, whose work explores the potential of radical democracy and consistently challenges the blind spots of the digital avantgardes. Moderated by Anna Sauerbrey, who is a Berlin-based journalist, this public talk will reflect the politics of citizenship with regard to the rampant digitalization of people's lives – be they citizens or not.

 

Friday | Nov. 3 | 7:30 p.m.
Who Claims Global Citizenship?

 

Who Claims Global Citizenship? Two prolific speakers will discuss this question: the journalist Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, whose book "The Cosmopolites" has triggered a debate about the commodification of citizenship, and the media art pioneer Ingo Günther, whose project "Refugee Republic" envisions a global network of refugee shelters. Moderated by Harsha Walia, a Vancouver-based activist, this public talk will reflect on global citizenship from the points of view of both the super-rich and the underprivileged.

 

Saturday | Nov. 4 | 3 p.m.
How is citizenship changing in war times?

 

How is citizenship changing in war times? Two prolific speakers will look for answers: the geographer Deborah Cowen, whose books "War, Citizenship, Territory" and "The Deadly Life of Logistics" explore the politics of violence in the global age, and the historian Felicity Scott, whose Silicon Valley research sheds new light on the emergence of the military-entertainment complex. Moderated by Valentina Pellizzer, a Sarajevo-based cultural worker, this public talk will reflect the crises of citizenship in the context of war. 

As a warm-up to this public talk, the workshop groups will present their results: position papers, multimedia storytelling projects, etc. 

After this talk, please join a cooking party with Pepe Dayaw starting at 6:30 p.m.