These practices are rooted in ancient traditions or have emerged more recently for various reasons. In this studio, we will delve into this world of alternative moral economies, where sharing knowledge, cars and housing is not just a possibility, but a vibrant reality.
This studio addresses the urgent question of how we, as humans, can shape sustainable coexistence with each other and with other organisms in a rapidly changing world. We will discuss the research and ideas from different disciplines on this topic and look for real alternative systems and art projects. These range from local exchange trading systems with their own currencies to the Latin American concept of buen vivir and the Indonesian communal lumbung. In the final stage, you will work in small groups on your own project.
Objectives
- Find out about alternative economies and the innovative, resilient initiatives of people around the world.
- Understand the importance of academic knowledge and skills in interdisciplinary teams.
- Practise thinking outside the box.
- Learn how to apply your knowledge and skills in a social context.
Group Assignment
The assignment involves gathering knowledge about a specific field in which sharing, the commons, and circulation are put into practice. Each week, we will discuss our insights from the literature, experience and case studies in groups. Guest speakers will inform us, and we will visit a project.
Deliverables
We will work towards a project initiated and led by small groups that will be presented as the final outcome of the course. The project will be based on our reading, discussions, explorations, and contact-based knowledge. It will focus on one of the major areas in which alternative economies have developed, or could develop. The final product can take various creative and medial forms.
Study Material
- Florian Ross, ‘Kate Raworth - Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist’,(2017) Conference Paper, in Regional and Business Studies (April 2020); online.
- Other materials will be presented at a later stage.
- Ashish Kotari et al., Pluriverse. A Post-Development Dictionary (New Delhi, 2019).
Weekly Meetings
The meetings will take place on Monday evenings from 18.30 – 20.30 (except for week 1: 1800)
Our weekly meetings will consist of plenary talks about the literature and smaller group sessions, interspersed with short lectures introducing the week’s topic. Much of what we will achieve depends on your input, so the agenda for the meetings has not yet been finalised. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to share your knowledge and experience. We will invite a guest speaker and organise an excursion.
You may be asked to spend some time reading material and/or thinking about certain questions for each session.