Doctoral artistic research project “Circus as Practices of Hope” by Marie-Andrée Robitaille (SKH). Credit Picture: Einar Kling Odencrants

Information

Marie-Andrée Robitaille participates during the sustainability conference ISDRS

14/06/2022

The International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference – ISDRS takes place between 15 and 17 June 2022 in Stockholm. This year, the conference is organized under the special topic: Sustainable Development and Courage: Culture, Art and Human Rights. Doctoral candidate Marie-Andrée Robitaille is one of the keynote speakers.

Marie-Andrée Robitaille will introduce the project “Vulnerability as Virtuosity” a part of her Doctoral Artistic Research project “Circus as Practices of Hope” at SKH. The presentation will be followed by a plenary session including researchers particpating in the project: Emma Stenström from Stockholm School of Economics and Malena Britz from the Swedish Defence University. The panel will be moderated by Tinna Joné from SKH. The panel will discuss notions of vulnerability and virtuosity both from the perspective of the researchers own fields and in relation to transdisciplinarity as a hopeful practice for the future.

When: 16 June, at 16:15-17:15
Where: Alfred Nobels Allé 7, Flemingsberg

Vulnerability as Virtuosity, Hopeful Practices for the Future

Marie-Andrée Robitaille’s artistic doctoral project “Circus as Practices of Hope” is in response to the growing complexities emerging from the convergence of the fourth industrial revolution, the sixth mass extinction, and the eco-socio-political turmoil of our time. It asks: How might circus arts contribute to developing embodied practices to help navigate the significant current paradigm shift in this contemporary planetary context? What can be learned about our modes of presence and engagement in the world when the circus artist recognizes and integrates vulnerability in circus composition and performance rather than aiming to transcend it?

Following the International Sustainable Development Research Society’s seminar series in 2020, Marie-Andrée Robitaille invited a group of researchers from the Swedish Defence University, Stockholm School of Economics, Stockholm University of the Arts, Stockholm University, Uppsala University and Södertörn University to meet around the notion of vulnerability. In 2021, through discursive activities, they collectively looked at how the notion of vulnerability is understood and manifested in their respective fields, and how possible new practices could be initiated, practices that might help align vulnerability with a more sustainable and fairer world?

Beginning with a presentation of the overall project, the panel will bring together researchers from the fields of circus arts, economics, military and civilian aspects of defence. The panel will discuss notions of vulnerability and virtuosity both from the perspective of their own fields and in relation to transdisciplinarity as a hopeful practice for the future.

Marie-Andrée Robitaille SKH, 2. Credit Picture Einar Kling Odencrants.jpg

Photo: Doctoral artistic research project “Circus as Practices of Hope” by Marie-Andrée Robitaille (SKH). Credit Picture: Einar Kling Odencrants.

Read more about SKH at ISDRS

Keynote speaker

Marie-Andrée Robitaille is an artist based in Sweden, currently doctoral candidate in performative and mediated practices at Stockholm University of the Arts (SKH). She has worked as a circus artist with Cirkus Cirkör among others and as a talent scout for Cirque du Soleil. From 2009 to 2018, she was an assistant professor and head of the Bachelor's program in Circus at SKH. In her previous artistic research projects, she investigated the representation of women in circus (Gynoïdes Project), sonic interactions (Sound of Circus), and sense-perception (Hidden Circus). In her doctoral project, "Circus as Practices of Hope", she focuses on alternative modes of composition as a method to support the emergence of posthuman practices in circus arts.

Panelists

Emma Stenström is Associate Professor and Director of the Research Center for Arts, Business & Culture at Stockholm School of Economics (SSE). Her research concerns aesthetic, creative and innovative aspects of sustainable business, the intersection between arts and business, and the humanistic side of management. She has published hundreds of research-based articles, chapters, and columns. Beside her academic career, Emma has been a regular columnist in Dagens Industri since 2000.

Malena Britz holds a PhD from Stockholm University (2004) and is Associate Professor in Political Science at the Swedish Defence University, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of Research. Since 2018 she has worked with developing systems for systematic quality development of both education and research at the Swedish Defence University. Her role as head of research includes among other tasks communication with the Swedish Armed Forces on commissioned research. Her areas of research include different aspects of European security policy, Europeanisation, and Nordic co-operation. She has studied different areas of security policy from defence industry policy, development of EU security and defence, European states' participation in international operations, as well as international aspects of civil protection. Her latest larger research project studied decision-making in six European countries with regard to participation in international military operations, answering the question why do European countries participate in international military operations? The project resulted in the book European Participation in International Operations: The Role of Strategic Culture (Palgrave Macmillan).

Moderator

Tinna Joné, Assistant professor in documentary storytelling and responsible MA programs in Film and Media at SKH. Research about reality in the digital media landscape, exploring how new technology can support development towards more equal representation in the contemporary documentary narrative. 30 years professional experience in film and media. Directed documentary films for cinema in Sweden and abroad. Made investigative journalism, produced feminist radio and do art, performance and soundwalks in the public space.