From 11 to 15 July 2016 the fifth Lova International Summer School was organised, centred around the theme of War, Violence, Militarism and Reconciliation – Ethnographies in Queer, Gender & Feminist Anthropology. We focused on learning ethnographic methods within the frame of feminist anthropology. This year we organised a debate diner, visited the red-light district, and had yoga lessons in the open air.
In the Summer School ‘learning by doing’ stood central, concentrating on ethnographic methods and deepening knowledge. Like in previous years we dived into methodological training with bodily exercises in workshops (mime, theatre, vocal lessons, yoga) and lectures, accompanied by a great deal of hospitality. Research methods such as focus groups, observation, presentation, participant observation and new conversation/interview techniques were discussed. Small field trips and excursions were part of the program as all of the exercises, lectures and workshops are meant to assist the participants to focus on their projects and their bodies, also when presenting their master’s theses, conference papers or PhD research plans as well as research ‘output’.
We worked with anti-hierarchical structures and we invited newly graduated students to teach next to professors. We provided information about ethnographic ‘tools’ within the parameters of queer, gender, and feminist anthropology. All of the exercises, lectures and workshops were meant to assist the participants to focus on their research projects, their outlook, their bodies and the wider social, cultural, economic, political, and the aesthetic world.
The school was designed for students (BA, MA, PhD) and life long learners with an interest in anthropology, ethnographic fieldwork and gender studies.
Organising committee
Academic Director: Reinhilde Sotiria König
Creative Directors: Nathalie Roos and Carola Lammers
Chair LOVA: Marina de Regt
lova.summerschool@lovanetwerk.nl
Programme
Lectures
Marie Jose de Abreu (Anthropologist, Humboldt University, Berlin) Civil war: Life, home and the city
Saphina Batuusah (LGBT activist) A personal account
Erella Grassiani (Anthropologist, University of Amsterdam) Securitization and Militarization: Israel/Palestine and beyond
Emine Igdi (Anthropologist, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) The armed struggle in Kurdistan region of Turkey and the double life of Kurdish migrants in the Netherlands
Tina Lenz (Design anthropologist) Social anthropology and the reconciliation role of design
Anas Raghab (teacher / Syrian refugee) A personal account
Marina de Regt (Anthropologist, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) Feminist anthropology in times of war and conflict: A personal account
Naomi van Stapele (Anthropologist, University of Amsterdam) Black Lives Matter: Extra judicial killings in the United States of America and Kenia, with trailer of documentary We are no dogs
Christina Weiss (Anthropologist, De Montfort University, Leicester) Working with your emotions when your emotions work on you: Emotions as a source of knowledge and self-care in feminist ethnographic research
Workshops
Sara Blom (Anthropologist and filmmaker) Visual ethnography exercise: Reflections on war in the public space
Idwer Doosje (Composer, MA student University of Utrecht) Off the cuff, a musical composition about four (canonical) anthropological theories: 1. Pick-nick near the creek, 2. Metropolis, 3. Snow Globe, 4. The spoiled brat and never give up
Nienke van der Heide (Anthropologist, Leiden University) The aggressive other, the aggressive self: Exploring aggression’s potential for empowerment and empathy
Marie-Louise Janssen (Anthropologist, University of Amsterdam) Debunking the myth in prostitution
Excursions
Marie-Louise Janssen (Anthropologist, University of Amsterdam). Strolling through the Red Light District of Amsterdam
Carola Lammers (Anthropologist, teacher cross cultural communication, and tour guide) The 17th century in the Rijksmuseum
Vivienne Matthies-Boon (Political scientist, University of Amsterdam) Sexualised Torture and Other Traumas: Activists’ Testimonies from (Post) Revolutionary Egypt
Nathalie Roos (Anthropologist & artist) Drawing as an ethnographic research method
Mick Sarria (Theatre maker) and Julienne Weegels (Anthropologist, University of Amsterdam/CEDLA) A physical theatre workshop: Violence, confinement and masculinity in Nicaragua
Lilith Turk (Yoga teacher, Active Health Centre, Amsterdam) Therapeutic stretching
Practical matters
Venue
The workshops and lectures were held at different locations:
1. Oudemanhuispoort building of University of Amsterdam. The first two days.
2. CREA, cultural centre of University of Amsterdam. One day
3. Boat The Ceuvel in Amsterdam North. Two days
Tuition fee
€250 for two places for a reduced price
€315 for LOVA members
€355 for non-funded BA/MA/PhD students and life-long learners
€495 for funded students and scholars
Note: The fee includes the administrative fee of €15.
Number of paying participants
15; from the Netherlands (7, one from Iran originally, one from Italy originally), Pakistan, Switzerland (3, from Graduate Institute in Geneva coming from three different countries), UK (3, of whom one from India originally and one from Qatar originally).