Revolutions in syrup

Public happiness means a sharing of utopian moments where it seems that reality can still be changed. Happiness in the sense Hannah Arendt gives it is the possibility of participating in world events, as was the case during the May ’68 revolution, which in Poland began infamously in March. In spite of post-enthusiastic melancholy, revolution is precisely about this joy derived from collective action regardless of the effects it produces; revolution is about demanding access to rights, the abolition of privileges, it is about egalitarian concern for one another and a closeness that allows one to transcend one’s sense of alienation. The revolutionary power of happiness lies precisely in these transgressions overcoming the barriers of fear brought about by systemic injustice, thus enabling the solidarity of the oppressed to be established.

Revolution is affective

The collectives invited to contribute to Workshops of Revolution, such as The Army of Love, Bojka Collective, Feminist Health Care Research Group or Gyne Punk postulate to take the perspective of the sick, the elderly, the marginalized and to become aware of the existence of privilege in order to dismantle the regime of normatively beautiful and healthy bodies dominating over those systemically excluded. The Army of Love proposes a radical re-evaluation of what has hitherto defined the independent, ‘normative’ human subject, namely its demasculinisation. Here, the principle of competitiveness is replaced by cooperation and the urge to dominate by a desire that transcends heteronormative schemes.

On the 50th anniversary of May 1968, which in Poland started in March, this public experience of happiness will be the principal feature of Workshops of Revolution.

Join us for a celebration!

Take part in our workshops of revolution!

Zofia nierodzińska

Official website: http://68warsztatyzrewolucji.pl/

organizacja: Teatr 8. Dnia, Galeria Miejska Arsenał, Estrada Poznańska

fot. Alexander Kluge, “Abschied von gestern”, 1966