Conversation/debate

Passing It On

Few voices have been connecting the study and the research that we all do – students, artists, dramaturgs, curators... – across several academies and programs at KHiO. Theodor Barth has been one of them: an anthropologist who doesn't only teach students to exercise their thought about their practice, but who has been observing, commenting and provoking dialogue across boards with his curious eyes wide open for nearly 20 years in our school.

Theo has retired from his regular teaching duties but remains as a Professor Emeritus with us. What does it mean to teach theory in the department of Design? And what happens when the teacher hops to other departments and starts to converse with dancers, for examples? How does a community of knowledge at KHiO let someone go - not building a monument but taking care of their legacy? 

More specifically, we will talk about the Learning Theater as a method, format, and pedagogical situation that Theo has developed in the past decade. The Learning Theater has established a practice of writing from within one's artistic work and several teachers have benefited from it. Besides Bojana Cvejić as Theo's interlocutor, the other teachers who have collaborated with Theo are invited into this conversation. Join us to raise a glass to Theo!