Roundtable: Is anyone listening? Authority and authenticity in a fragmented public sphere

Centre of Global South Asian Studies is pleased to invite you to a roundtable with: 

Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen, Dept. of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, UCPH
Kristin Veel, Dept. of Arts and Cultural Studies, UCPH
Nils Holtug, Dept. of Media, Cognition and Communication, UCPH
Ravinder Kaur (moderator), Dept. of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, UCPH
Thomas Blom Hansen, Stanford University
William Mazzarella, University of Chicago

Abstract 

Theories of publicity and the public sphere assume that diverse audiences and communities of interpretation share a common national language and some shared references. However, in much of the world multiple publics exist alongside each other with limited mutual intelligibility and limited mutual interest. Some of these fragmented publics map onto ethnic or religious divides, others to social class and distinct minorities.

How does such multiple and fragmented publics function? How does public authority and cultural authenticity get produced when there are few shared markers and parameters? Do people need to understand each other in order to coexist or share a public life? 

This panel debate will approach these questions from the vantage point of South Asia, Middle East and Europe marked by a huge array of languages and distinct cultural formations, as well as dynamic and expressive public cultures. 

Date 25th March 2014

Time 1100-1300

Venue 15A.0.13 KUA, Karen Blixens Vej 4, Faculty of Humanities, 2300 Kbh

Open to Public. Registration not required.