International Conference “The Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure” : May 4 – 6, 2023

International conference of the DFG research network “The Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure.” Hosted by the Institute for American Studies at University of Mannheim. The event is open to the public.Please register via e-mail: motyl@uni-mannheim.de Keynotes: Adrian Daub (Stanford University)“Managing Failure: Discourses around ‘Political Correctness’ and ‘Cancel Culture’ as Fables of Disinvestment” Jack … Read more

Call for Papers, Conference “The Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure”

May 4-6, 2023, University of Mannheim  Confirmed Keynote Speakers: Jack Halberstam (Columbia University), Heather Houser (University of Texas at Austin)   Knowledge is prone to failure. The shortcomings of knowledge production and dissemination are on display in a host of unfolding crises, from the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine to … Read more

Videocast with Simon Strick

In addition to essay-style posts, we’re launching another category on our blog – a videocast. In this German-language interview, network member Simon Strick introduces his award-winning book on digital fascism, which was published in spring 2021 with transcript, in dialogue with network coordinator Katharina Motyl. Since the book was published in German, it made sense … Read more

3. (Online) Workshop: June 10 & 11, 2021

Embodied Knowledges & the Failures of Neoliberal Work Culture Due to the pandemic, the network launches a third online workshop. The two guest lectures by David T. Mitchell & Sharon L. Snyder as well as Mita Banerjee will be open to the public and can be accessed here.Check out the workshop page for more information.

2. (Online) Workshop: Dec. 10 &11, 2020

Queer / New Media: Rethinking Knowledge and its Failure Due to the current pandemic, the second workshop of the network will also take place virtually. Those interested are therefore invited to participate in the guest lecture by Prof. Dr. Robert Payne (American University, Paris) via zoom. Prof. Payne will speak on December 10th at 4.00 … Read more

Three tweets on the failure of knowledge

In addition to the workshops and individual research projects of the network members, the Blog Section is another focus of the network’s attention. Essays by members of the network on current topics related to the overarching focus “Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure” will be regularly published. Dr. Simon Strick (Berlin) starts off the … Read more

Police Brutality against Black People in the United States

In light of the police brutality against Black people in the United States, which has become newly visible over the last days, but which is actually linked to a centuries-long history of structural racism against People of Color, we feel compelled to take a stance as a network of American Studies scholars based in Germany, … Read more

The Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure

In the research network “The Failure of Knowledge – Knowledges of Failure,” fifteen scholars of American Studies and related disciplines are investigating the nexus of failure and knowledge, addressing such timely concerns as ‘the postfactual,’ climate-science denial, or the digital divide as well as historical questions such as the suppression of Indigenous knowledge systems. This … Read more