Tentacular Writing

“It matters what stories we tell to tell other stories with; [it matters] (…) what thoughts think thoughts” (Haraway, 2016). In academic research, the way we write matters in what kind of knowledge we produce, what perspectives we illuminate, what connections we build. Yet, writing a PhD dissertation is often restrained into specific types of textuality and understood as an individual process that the researcher undertakes anxiously alone. This summer school intends to renegotiate and experiment with the ways we – as researchers and spatial practitioners – perform writing, as a format and as a practice in a non-hierarchical learning format. Set up as a collective retreat in the Swiss Alps, a group of peers will shape an academic community, work alongside and discuss their work-in-progress informally. Besides the time devoted to reflection on personal work, the summer school intends to offer an experience of community building in academia and a collective exploration in creative writing and collaboration.

The programme includes “Room and Field, Writing One with Another: a Site-Writing Workshop” by Prof Jane Rendell and artist Dr Polly Gould (The Bartlett, UCL), and writer Dr Sarah Butler, sensorial workshops “Writing with sound” by sound artist Ludwig Berger and “Follow your Nose” by community artist Curdin Tones, collective cooking sessions and fountain bathing.

Participation fees cover accommodation and selected meals (lunch and 2 dinners): 250CHF (ETHZ/EPFL doctoral students), 350CHF external doctoral students. All participants are required to take part in the full 6 day programme. The summer school offers 2 ECTS.

Apply via tentacularwriting@arch.ethz.ch by July 3rd. Please submit a writing sample related to your dissertation (2000 words max.), a short motivation statement and a CV.