Desire and Love

PROFILE
Open to professionals, artists, and creatives of all ages & genders

WHEN
2024 September

LOCATION
Lake Balaton, Hungary

PRICE
500 € / Module
(with accommodation and food included)

focus

Politics of Desire: Wittig and Barthes
Ethics and Aesthetics of Love: Kant and Badiou
Metaphysics of Loss and Grief: Schopenhauer and Kierkegaard

about

Welcome to our multidisciplinary performance masterclass, where desire and love take center stage in a dynamic blend of theory and practice. Join us on a transformative journey as we explore the intricate realms of human emotion and existential longing across three compelling modules, each spanning four days at our Healing Centre, located by the serene Lake Balaton.

Module 1: Politics of Desire
Module 2: Ethics and Aesthetics of Love
Module 3: Metaphysics of Loss and Grief

Through curated explorations of philosophical texts, contemporary artworks, and immersive experiential exercises, we invite you to uncover the profound depths of desire and love. Prepare to ignite your creativity, challenge your perceptions, and experience profound personal growth as we journey together into the heart of desire and love.

schedule

MODULE 1: SEPTEMBER 2-5: POLITICS OF DESIRE
VENUE: LAKE BALATON, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
FOCUS: CRITICAL THEORY & MOVEMENT PRACTICE

In the first week, drawing from the writings of Monique Wittig ("Les Guérillères", 1969) and Roland Barthes ("A Lover's Discourse: Fragments", 1978), as well as contemporary artists and choreographers such as Pina Bausch ("Café Müller", 1978) and Sasha Waltz ("Impromptus", 2004), we will interrogate the political and gendered dimensions of desire and love. Through close reading, performative interpretations, and critical dialogue, we will investigate how desire is shaped by social, cultural, and linguistic structures, exploring intersections of power, identity, and sexuality.
The Autumn Retreat activities encompass a rich array of experiences, from critical theory and reading sessions to vibrant discussions, creative writing exercises, and immersive movement practices. Participants will engage in somatic body work, delve into experimental explorations, and conduct choreographic research, culminating in the creation and presentation of their artistic endeavors.

MODULE 2: SEPTEMBER 9-12: ETHICS & AESTHETICS OF LOVE
VENUE: LAKE BALATON, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
FOCUS: CRITICAL THEORY & MOVEMENT PRACTICE

In the second week, we'll explore love's ethical and aesthetic dimensions through Immanuel Kant ("Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals", 1785) and Alain Badiou's ("Infinite Thought: Truth and the Return to Philosophy", 2003) philosophies. Engaging with their texts, we'll probe love's moral significance, duty, and the nature of events. Contemporary works like Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar's "Love Chapter 2" (2017) and Akram Khan's "The Measure of a Man" (2019) offer rich insights into these themes, enriching our performative exercises, and group discussions on love, freedom, and ethical responsibility.
The Autumn Retreat activities encompass a rich array of experiences, from critical theory and reading sessions to vibrant discussions, creative writing exercises, and immersive movement practices. Participants will engage in somatic body work, delve into experimental explorations, and conduct choreographic research, culminating in the creation and presentation of their artistic endeavors.

MODULE 3: SEPTEMBER 16-19: METAPHYSICS OF LOSS & GRIEF
VENUE: LAKE BALATON, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
FOCUS: CRITICAL THEORY & MOVEMENT PRACTICE

During the final week, we will delve into the metaphysical underpinnings of desire and love through the philosophical works of Arthur Schopenhauer ("The World as Will and Representation", 1818) and Søren Kierkegaard ("Either/Or: A Fragment of Life", 1843), examining their concepts of the will-to-life and existential anxiety in relation to human longing. Through critical analysis and embodied exploration, participants will explore the existential and ethical dimensions of desire and love as articulated by these thinkers, culminating in the creation of performances resonating with their ideas. Complementing this exploration are contemporary artworks like Crystal Pite's "Betroffenheit" (2015), which delves into themes of loss and grief, offering insight into existential longing, and Marina Abramović's "The Lovers" (1988), which explores intimacy and separation, enriching our understanding of desire and love's complexities.
The Autumn Retreat activities encompass a rich array of experiences, from critical theory and reading sessions to vibrant discussions, creative writing exercises, and immersive movement practices. Participants will engage in somatic body work, delve into experimental explorations, and conduct choreographic research, culminating in the creation and presentation of their artistic endeavors.

your learning outcomes

1. Deepened Understanding: Participants will gain a profound understanding of the complexities of desire and love through a curated exploration of philosophical texts, contemporary artworks, and immersive experiential exercises.

2. Artistic Expression: Students will unlock new dimensions of artistic expression as they delve into the heart of desire and love, igniting their creativity and challenging their perceptions.

3. Personal Growth: The masterclass will inspire profound personal growth as participants confront and navigate their own emotions and existential longings within a supportive and nurturing environment.

4. Critical Thinking: Through critical engagement with philosophical concepts and contemporary artworks, students will enhance their critical thinking skills, developing the ability to analyze and interpret complex ideas and themes.

5. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Participants will engage in interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering connections and relationships with fellow artists and thinkers as they explore desire and love from diverse perspectives.