As part of the seminar THE URGE, THE ECHO the session Learning from Lonzi with Sensory Futures (Marianna Feher and Olivia Berkowicz) locates learning at the intersection of collective practice and politics. Tracing a narrative from Italian feminism of the 1970s, the Rivolta Femminile becomes the starting point for the discussion.

Through Carla Lonzi’s practice of autocoscienza, the concept of consciousness raising is introduced, as the articulation of one’s individual concerns in an expanded, collective experience. Learning from Lonzi, this notion is discussed through the theories of artist collective Claire Fontaine and Mark Fisher. In particular, the edge of the collectivization of intimacies and anxiety is explored – moving from consciousness raising towards a form of consciousness razing. The morning session will round-up with an excerpt of the artist Callum Hill’s award-winning film Crowtrap (2018).