will be postponed: "Angewandte Kunst". Nachkriegszeit in Deutschland und Hannah Arendts Dingbegriff

The lecture will focus on ‘applied art’, i.e. everyday objects that surround people and their design. Hannah Arendt's political theory makes it clear that this is not just about ‘beautiful things’, but rather about being fundamentally embedded in the world. Her ‘utility objects’ are placed in relation to the design efforts of the still young Federal Republic of Germany and, in particular, the work of Theodor Heuss, in order to develop a ‘maturity in situ’. What can a look at applied art sensitise us to, and what understanding of its application becomes clear here?

Biographical information

Anke te Heesen has been Professor of History of Science at Humboldt University in Berlin since 2011 and co-spokesperson for the Center for Advanced Studies Applied Humanities. Genealogy and Politics since 2024. Her research focuses on the media history of knowledge, collection and museum history, and the history of the human sciences. Her most recent publication is Frauen vor Muster. Geschichte eines Bildmotivs (Wagenbach 2025).