Perverting the Power Vertical, a transdisciplinary research seminar co-convened by Michal Murawski (UCL SSEES & FRINGE : Critical Area Studies), Maria Mileeva (UCL: History of Art & The Courtauld Institute: Russian Art) and Denis Maksimov (AVENIR INSTITUTE, The University of Applied Arts Vienna : Futures of Democracy), invites you to join us for an experimental reading group.
Each participant is invited to bring along a book, a chapter, a page from a text, an object, a picture of an artwork, a screenshot of a video, an event poster - or any other material that influenced their way of defining (or perverting) power. The object/text in question may have helped to arrive at a shorter, more concise, or more precise definition; or allowed it to become a more accurate or truthful (from participant’s perception) representation of the multi-fanged and many-headed phenomenon of power, which is at the centre of PPV’s inquiry.
The convenors of the seminar will commence the discussion with the introduction of their inspirations, followed by participating researchers. The results of this experimental workshop will be used as the foundation of the ever-growing Dictionary of Power compiled by PPV.
Prior to the workshop, the convenors of the seminar and horizontal-vertical governing body of FRINGE centre will present « The Palace of Ritual », the first instalment of the PPV participation in the carnival of the Venice Biennale preview week as well as future plans for Palazzo Perverso in Serenissima (Ab Aeterno).
This event is targeted at (but not limited) to PhD students and early career researchers based at UCL and elsewhere in London.

17.00 - 17.30 : Welcome aperitif
17.30 - 18.00 : Presentation of « The Palace of Ritual » in Palazzo Dona Brusa during the preview days of 58th Venice Biennale « May You Live in Interesting Times » with Alena Ledeneva, Peter Zusi, Michal Murawski, Maria Mileeva & Denis Maksimov
18.00 - 19.15 : Perverting Power : Reading Round Workshop
19.15 - 19.30 : Closing remarks
19.30 - 20.30 : Reception. Drinks and food will be served in a festive, Venezia-inspired mood.