ZeM Annual Focus “Kritische Geister”

The ZeM – Brandenburg Center for Media Studies announces the annual focus “Kritische Geister” for 2026/2027: Start in October 26, submissions of funding applications are now possible.

With its annual focus, the ZeM would like to promote inter-university exchange in Brandenburg and highlight the common profile of the research interests represented by its members.

Here you can find the detailed call for proposals with all information on how to apply (PDF in German).

Following the focus on “Digital Realities” (2022/2023), “Control of Loss” (2023/2024), and “Platformatizations” (2025/2026), the ZeM’s new annual focus “Kritische Geister” (Geist: mind, spirit, specter; but also alluding to Geisteswissenschaften: the humanities) aims to center the question of the current conditions, possibilities, and necessities of criticism. In light of the increasing pressure on the humanities, cultural studies, and the social sciences to justify their legitimacy – including outright attacks on academic freedom, which are directed not least against feminist, queer, postcolonial, and anti-racist research – but also in light of the increasingly urgent challenge for media studies to grapple theoretically and analytically with the interconnections of technological, economic, and political developments, the question of criticism should be understood in two senses: On the one hand, it addresses the responsibility of taking a critical stance. On the other hand, however, this very point raises the task of a critical self-understanding – perhaps still pending, perhaps always necessary, or perhaps simply continuing to remain invisible – of work in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences with regard to its missions and relevance.

The phrase “Kritische Geister” is thus intended to evoke both the precariousness and the potential of media studies and its related disciplines. At the same time, it invites us to question the historical connections between mind, reason, and criticism themselves: What notions of subjectivity, knowledge, and agency are associated with them, and which forms of knowledge and experience, by contrast, are marginalized or excluded? What might critical media studies look like today that do not fall short of the insights offered by its diverse traditions, yet do not limit themselves to just one of them – that meet today’s demands?

We look forward to receiving funding applications from various research contexts and projects. Possible event formats within the annual focus are workshops, lectures and lecture series, discussion rounds, performative interventions or presentations at ZeM and the participating universities.

Applications for funding can only be submitted by ZeM members. A ZeM membership is generally open to anyone who is employed or associated with media studies teaching and research at one of the participating universities in Brandenburg. If you would like to become a member, please send the completed membership application form by e-mail to: .

All information on the call and the application procedure can be found in the detailed call for proposals (PDF in German). If you have any further questions, please contact ZeM’s academic coordinator, Dr. Michael Ufer, phone +49(0)3 31 / 81 32 81-68, .

Graphic: Kira Kennon

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