Visions, Imaginationes, Abysses

Radical Dreaming

Ten-part public lecture series on the artsprogram theme of the year

In ten events from mid-February to the beginning of May, experts from the fields of art, literature, philosophy and cultural studies will explore the significance of dreams and visions in history and the present.


Using images, films, music, literary texts and computer games, the lectures explore the epistemology of dreams, visions, utopias and dystopias in art and popular culture. The very unique form of thought, cognition and experience of dreaming raises questions about the relationship between the virtual, the fictional, the fantastic and the real, and also touches on a historical-theoretical horizon, because dreaming also addresses the condition of the possibility of producing the future.


The series will be opened by two lectures by the initiators and organisers, Prof Dr Karen van den Berg (Chair of Art Theory and Staging Practice) on 15 February and Prof Dr Jan Söffner (Chair of Cultural Theory and Analysis) on 22 February.

Form of Event

The series of ten lectures will take place on Tuesdays at 7.15 p.m. in the Black Box of the Fallenbrunnen Campus of Zeppelin University.


The lecture series will take place as a hybrid event. You can access the online presentation via the link under the respective announcement.

You have the possibility to participate in the lecture via the browser. Please use Chrome or Microsoft Edge. Alternatively, you can download the Microsoft Teams app and then also participate via Safari.

Events in Detail

1 TU 15.02.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box |19:15 pm

Eröffnung der Ringvorlesung „Visionen, Imaginationen, Abgründe“

Prof Dr Karen van den Berg (ZU):
Broken Dreams, Himmelsleitern und Nachtmahre

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Link to the Hybrid Event


2 TU 22.02.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Prof Dr Jan Söffner (ZU):
Träumen als Denken

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Link to the Hybrid Event


3 TU 01.03.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Prof Dr Elisabeth Bronfen:
Do Androids Dream of Shakespeare?

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Link to the Hybrid Event


4 TU 08.03.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Prof Dr Maren Lehmann (ZU):
Radikalität als Albtraum. Versuch über Endlichkeit

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Link to the Hybrid Event


5 TU 15.03.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Dr des Esther Schomacher (ZU):
Kein Traum?! Von Elfen, Eseln und Liebeszaubern in Shakespeares »A Midsummer Night's Dream«

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Link to the Hybrid Event


6 TU 29.03.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Prof Dr Sigrid Ruby:

Traumbilder als Metabilder – Fallstudien zur Kunst des Surrealismus

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7 TU 05.04.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Dr Anke Hennig / Prof Dr Armen Avanessian:
Traumthesen in der künstlerischen Praxis

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8 TU 19.04.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Dr Philipp Kleinmichel:
Traumfabrik Internet: Zeitgenössische Kunst und fraktale Massenkultur

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9 TU 26.04.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Felix Krell:
Living in Shared Dreams – Erfahrungen aus vier Jahren Social VR

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10 TU 03.05.2022 | ZF Campus | Black Box | 19:15 pm

Dr Niklas Maak:
Hyperscale and Magnificenza: Data Center als Traummaschinen

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Link to the Hybrid Event

Time to decide

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