Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities are being administered in compliance with federal and state law.

Conference: Transformations of the Public Sphere

event poster
April 13 - April 14, 2012
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Mershon Center, The Ohio State University

Transformations of the Public Sphere,

International and Interdisciplinary Conference,

April 13-14, 2012

Mershon Center, The Ohio State University

Organized by the following Departments at OSU: Germanic Languages and Literatures, History, Political Science, Spanish & Portuguese, Center for Latin American Studies

Confirmed Speakers:  Michael Bongiorno, Sarah Bongiorno, Ignacio Corona, Carlos A. Forment, Nicholas Kiersey, Edgar Landgraf, Christoph Menke, Bart Overly, Juliane Rebentisch, Jacob Schiff, Kam Shapiro, Joel Wainwright, Spencer Weart.

This conference investigates the historical and contemporary significance of the public sphere and modern social imaginaries—of the discourses, norms, and ideas shared by members of a given society. The motivation for such an investigation arises from the growing interdependence of different nations, regions, and communities that demands and generates new ways of political, legal, economic, strategic, and cultural forms of cooperation. What kind of public spaces facilitate and what kind of shared imaginaries support such cooperation? What aspects in society hinder productive communication and interaction? Does productive social cooperation presuppose certain governmental, in particular democratic structures? Answers to these and related questions will be developed by drawing on several relevant disciplines, including, but not limited to social and political science, cultural theory, philosophy, history, history of science, and media studies.