A lecture by Alexander Kiossev, István Deák Visiting Professor of Slavic Languages. Moderated by Valentina Izmirlieva. Today, there is often talk of a lack of alternatives, a crisis of imagination, and “defuturing.” Many believe that in order to escape the claustrophobic lack of alternatives of neoliberalism, one needs a new perspective that opens up possibilities for a better world. However, this appeal itself is not quite a new one. Humanity has been dreaming for centuries, longing for happiness, opening up possible worlds, building projects, scenarios, and utopias for the future. Throughout its long history, some of these world-building dreams have been realized and unexpectedly turned into terrifying dystopias. Isn’t this a good reason to look analytically back at the risky history of dreams themselves? In this lecture, explore the demiurgic avant-garde art that emerged after the First World War. This was a time when artists indulged in grandiose fantastic projects and expansive horizons. Using examples from the Soviet avant-garde of the 1920s, we will examine both the visionary and self-exploring, reflexive aspects of utopianism. Soviet poets, writers, and artists of that time sought out possibilities even in the most peculiar and seemingly insane projects, that violated the principle of common sense reality; simultaneously they explored the dangerous limits of their dreams, too.
New York City, NY; NYC