Art After Democracy

​After the long triumphant reign of liberal democracies, there is a growing consensus around the belief that democratic orders across the world are in decay. But if anxiety about the fate of democratic systems is rife, much more confidence has been expressed about the role of art in strengthening democratic participation. The six speakers at this event have come together to write a book that will turn a critical eye on the political agency of art at a time when democracies across many regions of the world appear increasingly fragile. In our work, we will question how democratic the relations produced by these artworks really are and analyse the extent to which they replicate the same exclusions and inequalities they denounce. Yet we will also argue that art may play a significant role in revealing the weaknesses and contradictions inherent in contemporary democracies, and in highlighting the need for new transnational forms of democratic governance. 

​You are very welcome to take part in our discussions as we present work in progress and reflect on the challenges of co-authoring a book that draws on expertise across five regions and from the disciplines of art history, literature, cultural studies, anthropology, and political science.

​Speakers 

​Anna Corrigan (University of Cambridge)

​Malvika Maheshwari (Ashoka University)

​Paul Merchant (University of Bristol)

​Joanna Page (University of Cambridge)

​Erika Teichert (University of Bristol)

​Weiyi Wu (Nanjing University)

​Discussant 

​Anthony Gardner (University of Oxford) 

​Programme 

​2.00-3.15pm Introduction to the project and short presentations by the authors 

​3.15-3.45pm Tea and coffee 

​3.45-5.00pm Comments from the discussant; Q&A 

​5.00-6.00pm Drinks