Appropriation Revisited: The Potential and Challenges of a Critical Term of Historical Research

Appropriation Revisited: The Potential and Challenges of a Critical Term of Historical Research

Marian Füssel (University of Göttingen)

Critical Thinkers in Religion, Law and Social Theory Lecture Series

Abstract: Appropriation is one of the key concepts in cultural history, media research and the history of everyday life. Consuming, reading, walking – in short, the many ways of using something – encourage a fundamental change of perspective on human agency in both past and present. The lecture first reconstructs the theoretical foundations of the approach following Michel de Certeau and Alf Lüdtke. With terms like strategies and tactics, resistant practices of everyday life became visible as an ‘art of the weak’. In the meantime, however, the term ‘cultural appropriation’ has also been used to describe hegemonic power mechanisms. Both readings of appropriation are confronted with each other and questioned for their potential for empirical historical research.

This lecture will be followed by a wine and cheese reception offered by the German Embassy.