"Creative Convergences" is a dialogue series presented by the Division of Arts and Cultures at Franklin University Switzerland. This intellectual journey is not just a simple collection of conversations. It is a thoughtfully curated symposium where academia meets creativity, diversity, and ideas. Every gathering is a demonstration of the power of ideas that brings together innovative thinkers, distinguished scholars, and creative individuals from all over the world. By exploring the landscape of global leadership through the lens of liberal arts, participants get to experience firsthand the emergence of new perspectives that can only arise from such a rich and diverse dialogue.
This installment of the series will feature a captivating dialogue between Professor Caroline Wiedmer, professor of comparative literary and cultural studies at Franklin University Switzerland, and the artist ad comparatist Pascal Schwaighofer, currently a postdoc fellow at the FUS Center for Environmental Justice and Sustainable Futures.
About Pascal Schwaighofer:
Pascal holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Cornell University and an MA in Fine Arts from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan. His research is grounded in environmental humanities, visual culture, and critical theory. Starting from the material culture of apiculture, his dissertation titled Domesticating Metaphors—The Use(s) of Honeybees in Times of Extinction explores the modern Western fascination with honeybees and its transdisciplinary influence on linguistics, cybernetics, economy, and ecology. In 2022-23, Pascal was a Mellon Graduate Fellow at the Society for the Humanities, Cornell University. His interdisciplinary artistic practice intersects with academic pursuits, ranging from animal studies to political theory.
Event Highlights:
The event will feature a talk by Pascal Schwaighofer about his dissertation and his artistic practice followed by an interdisciplinary dialogue between Professor Caroline Wiedmer and Pascal Schwaighofer about their current teaching and research colloquium on the topic of Affective Narratives in the Age of Environmental Degradation. Audience participation will be most welcome during the dialogue. . This platform offers a rare opportunity for the exchange of ideas and perspectives, fostering interdisciplinary conversations that transcend traditional boundaries.