Online program: Conference

Acid Communism

Spectres of the Counterculture

Thu, Jun 10, 2021
Livestream
2–9 pm
Free of charge
Fri, Jun 11, 2021
Livestream
2–8 pm
Free of charge
In English, discussions partly in German and French with English translation

To what extent do the forgotten utopias of the 1960s and 70s haunt the twenty-first century? And under what material and psychological conditions could they emerge?

The conference is dedicated to the past and present of countercultures and subcultures. The contributors will deal in theory, art and practice with the idea of “acid communism” as articulated in the unfinished book by theorist Mark Fisher, who died in 2017. “Acid” refers to the psychedelic culture of the late 1960s and early 70s including its mind-altering effects.

Curated by Pascal Jurt and Christian Werthschulte

With Bernd Cailloux, Diedrich Diederichsen, Jeremy Gilbert, Owen Hatherley, Helen Hester, Nadia Idle, Keir Milburn, Maurizio Lazzarato, Cord Riechelmann, Barbara Sichtermann, McKenzie Wark, Alex Williams, Nona Willis Aronowitz and others

Friday, June 11

2–2.15pm
What is Acid Communism?
Introduction by Pascal Jurt and Christian Werthschulte

2.15–3.30pm
Revolution and Capitalism in the 1970s
Lecture by Maurizio Lazzarato followed by a discussion and Q&A with Séverine Marguin

3.30–4.45pm
The Political Consciousness of Totality –Thinking Complexity.
Lecture by Alex Williams followed by a discussion and Q&A

5–6.15pm
We’re Building a New City – How the Counterculture fell out of love with Modern Architecture
Lecture by Owen Hatherley followed by a discussion and Q&A

6.15–8pm
#ACFM goes Live with You!
Live podcast with Nadia Idle, Jeremy Gilbert and Keir Milburn followed by a discussion and Q&A

    • Thursday, June 10

    2–2.30pm
    What is Acid Communism?
    Introduction by Pascal Jurt and Christian Werthschulte

    2.30–3pm
    Access to Tools (on Acid)
    Lecture by Diedrich Diederichsen

    3–3.45pm
    Responses to „Access to Tools (on Acid)”
    By Barbara Sichtermann, Cord Riechelmann and Bernd Cailloux

    3.45–4.45pm
    Round table
    With Diedrich Diederichsen, Barbara Sichtermann, Cord Riechelmann and Bernd Cailloux

    5–5.45pm
    The Feminist Promise (and Peril) of Communal Living
    Lecture by Nona Willis Aronowitz

    5.45–6.15pm
    Dropping Out: Exodus, Acid Communes, and the Limits of Refusal
    Lecture by Helen Hester

    6.15–7.15pm
    Round table
    With Nona Willis Aronowitz, Helen Hester and Sonja Eismann

    7.30–9pm
    Happy Flesh
    Keynote by McKenzie Wark followed by a discussion and Q&A with Pascal Jurt and Christian Werthschulte