[FoME] The Power of Activist Video – Conference @ ICI Berlin

[Christoph Dietz]

THE POWER OF ACTIVIST VIDEOS

Conference, 12-13 May 2017 ICI Institute for Cultural Inquiry Berlin
Christinenstr. 18/19, Haus 8
10119 Berlin

Web videos play a crucial role in the political protests that mobilize
today‘s civil society. Spread and shared across social media, they draw
attention to a variety of issues, serve as evidence and, ultimately, as
a call to action. In the attempt to win viewers’ hearts and minds,
various new lm forms and practices are emerging in the networked spaces
of the Web 2.0. These new types of videos actively engage their audience
by inviting participation, and thus contribute to the formation of
counterpublics and social movements. However, the power of web videos
remains a contentious issue, as it is often associated with problems
such as misuse, deception, ‚clicktivism‘ or surveillance. The conference
will bring together international researchers and activists to discuss
the political aesthetics, strategies, and impact of these new lm forms –
in short, the power of contemporary activist videos.

Organized by Jens Eder (Film University Babelsberg), Britta Hartmann
(University of Bonn), Julian Radlmaier (Freie Universität Berlin) and
Chris Tedjasukmana (Freie Universität Berlin and University of Art and
Design Linz), funded by the Volkswagen Foundation (Research project
"Video Activism 2.0 Between Social Media and Social Movements“).

https://www.ici-berlin.org/events/the-power-of-activist-video/ 
http://videoactivism.net/de/conference-berlin-2017/ 

————

FRIDAY, 12 MAY 2017

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
10.00-11.00
Jens Eder (Film University Babelsberg) / Britta Hartmann (University of
Bonn) / Chris Tedjasukmana (Freie Universität Berlin and University of
Art and Design Linz): „Exploring the Field of Web Video Activism – Some
Questions“

VIDEO PRACTICES AND ACTS OF DISOBEDIENCE
11.30-12.15
Robin Celikates (University of Amsterdam): „Video Disobedience: From
Resistance to Resignation?“
12.15-13.00
Tina Askanius (University of Lund): „Activist Video as T̶e̶x̶t̶,̶
̶T̶e̶s̶t̶i̶m̶o̶n̶y̶,̶ ̶T̶e̶c̶h̶n̶o̶l̶o̶g̶y̶, Practices"

CURRENT VIDEO ACTIVISM IN TURKEY AND SYRIA
14.45-15.30
Şirin Erensoy (Kültür University, Istanbul): „The Evolution of Video
Activism in Turkey“
15.30-16.15
Nather Henafe Alali (Journalist and activist, Frankfurt and Deir
ez-Zor, Syria): „Video Activism and Syrian Publics in Exile“

VIDEO FORMS AND RHETORICS
16.45-17.30
Concha Mateos (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid): „Video Activism:
Discourse Types and Narrative Heroines and Heroes“
17.30-18.15
Kathrin Fahlenbrach (University of Hamburg): „Embodied Rhetorics.
Audiovisual Evidence and Metaphors in Videoactivism“

BUILDING IMPACT
19.00-20.00
Kate Nash (University of Leeds) : „Professional Activism? Exploring the
Impact of Impact“
& John Corner (University of Leeds): „Activism, Media Forms and
Political Spaces: Some Comments of Response“


SATURDAY, 13 MAY 2017

10.00-11.00
VIDEOS IN CLOSE-UP

CREDIBILITY IN CRISIS
11.30-12.15
Sascha Simons (Leuphana University, Lüneburg): „A Witness for the
Witness. On the Unreliability of Audiovisual Testimonies“
12.15-13.00
Gabi Sobliye / Leil-Zahra Mortada (Tactical Technology Collective,
Berlin): „Video Ethics and the Manufacturing of Truth“


14.30-16.00
OPEN ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION: STORY WARS AND VIDEO TACTICS – ACTIVIST 
PERSPECTIVES
with Maike Gosch (story4good, Hamburg), Nanna Heidenreich (ifs
international film school, Cologne), Margarita Tsomou (Missy Magazine,
Berlin), Malte Voß (video activist and author, Berlin), Thorsten Winsel
(video activist, Berlin)