#2 Peripheral feminisms

Peripheral feminisms
Giulia Damiani
16 & 17. 9. 2015
18.30 – 20.30
National Dance Center | Centrul Național al Dansului

This session will consider peripheral forms of feminism through Giulia’s research on the artist collective Le Nemesiache from Napoli, a nearly obliterated group which determined the cultural progress of the city between the 70s and 80s.

DAY 1
We will discuss if and how feminist practices from the past resonate with the present societal conditions and intellectual positions. Le Nemesiache’s peculiar artistic production will engender conversations on media such as poetry, cinema and performance; their separatist manifestos will interrogate us on the potential of marginality that wants to be such. What happens when amateur art away from the centres of power becomes the centre of critical analysis?

Readings
Le Nemesiache’s manifesto #1 and manifesto #2
Rosi Braidotti In Spite of the Times (2008)
Carla Lonzi Let’s Spit on Hegel (1970)
Hélène Cixous The Laugh of the Medusa (1976)

DAY 2
Between the first and second night I will ask you to write your personal manifesto through your identified periphery. You will be taking on the traits and features of the marginal reality you think you belong to and play them out during the session. Essentially, victimise yourself. In your manifesto you should single out what you believe are the artistic or intellectual criteria that can express your position of minority at best; this can be executed either by reinterpreting previous manifestos or by formulating your own. You may want to play with different media, but should keep your voice and some main text in. Some examples of manifestos are provided below.

Readings
F.T. Marinetti Futurist Manifesto (1909)
Franco Berardi aka Bifo Post-futurist Manifesto (2009)
Valérie Solanas SCUM Manifesto (1967) + video French version