Critical views on the political potential of really big stories
More than ever, people are looking for radical solutions and alternatives to the status quo. There is a need for grand narratives, “big ideas” to spur social action and structural change. By way of an online arts programme and exhibition, with web projects, lectures, debates, screenings, and with historical and current examples, the new series The Grand Narrative at IMPAKT Centre for Media Culture illustrates the revolutionary potential of stories which harness the power to change our future, for better or worse.
Which stories are presented in popular series and games? Which distorted representations do these offer? We explore the ways in which narratives can be used to reconstruct reality with mistaken and false beliefs in the case of conspiracy theories, and discuss how an inspiring narrative can help writing new histories for previously silenced groups, such as women. Within this quest to unpack new insurgent grand narratives, IMPAKT launches two new programmes this week: the web project Radicalization by Design gathers cross-disciplinary dialogues on the radicalizing influence of media, and the exhibition Abducting Europa illustrates the power of myths in the European political imaginary.
By scrutinizing the narratives that drive public debate, this programme helps active and resilient citizens of our contemporary media driven society to understand and use the power of inspiring and cohesive narratives and to use these to tell their own stories and contribute to positive change. The Grand Narrative is curated by Marc Tuters, Inez de Coo and Arjon Dunnewind.
Radicalization by Design: a web project into the rabbit holes of media
Are our media radicalizing us? In the past half decade this question has increasingly come to preoccupy both popular and academic debate. Social media are often conceptualized as full of “rabbit holes,” leading to deeper parts of the web. While the metaphor of a radicalization rabbit hole is common, perspectives diverge when it comes to who or what is responsible for the radicalizing. Typically the left pinpoints structural features built into the environment, while the right points to the individual’s choice to “take the red pill.” The web project Radicalization by Design convenes a cross-disciplinary and public-facing dialogue at the intersection of new media and extremism studies to discuss these narratives and cast light on these darker regions of the web.
Abducting Europa: an exhibition about the power of myths and stories in politically troubled Europe
The political imaginary of Europe today is permeated with metaphors of struggle. Intentionally out of step with the times, new movements dream of national rebirth by promoting ancient myths. Paradoxically some of these reactionary movements feel most at home online—with memes and flamewars—on platforms where conspiracy theories and radicalisation take root. The videos, installations, docu-fiction and prints in this exhibition explore elements of fringe internet culture, (post)national symbolism and various altered states of historical consciousness.
The exhibition is on view from August 8 to September 27 at IMPAKT in Utrecht, with artworks by Clusterduck, Simon Denny, Andy King, Szabolcs KissPál, Annika Larsson, Sulaïman Majali, Dorine van Meel, Liliana Piskorska and Jonas Staal.
Online artist talks and interviews can be accessed through the Beyond Art app and web platform by IMPAKT.
For more information on The Grand Narrative series and to watch past events, please visit our website. For press enquiries, please contact Michelle Franke at pr [at] impakt.nl.
IMPAKT is a media arts organization based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, presenting critical and creative views on contemporary media culture and arts in an interdisciplinary context. IMPAKT organises activities including: IMPAKT Works, a residency programme, IMPAKT Events, a series of presentations and screenings on a given theme, movement, or artist, and the annual IMPAKT Festival, a five-day multimedia event with exhibitions, film screenings, lectures, panels, performances, presentations, and artist talks. The IMPAKT Festival 2020 Zero Footprint will take place from October 28 until November 1.
