The ocean holds numerous stories of kinship between the human and the more-than-human. One of those stories tells of the ancient oceanic ancestors of our present-day (human) bodies of water. Traces of many of those ancestors, such as the amoeba or the jellyfish, are still present in the human body.
This symposium, curated by Marialena Marouda as part of the Series of More-Than-Human Encounters of VUB Crosstalks, is entirely devoted to oceanic storytelling in kinship with hydrofeminism. This form of feminism is particularly sensitive towards watery creatures and our solidarity with them. It is also inspired by music and song-making practice – songings –, believing them to be a means of interspecies community creation and resistance. We therefore propose joining with these ancestors in practices of writing, songing and storytelling. Llistening to them as essential for finding – and healing – our more-than-human voice(s) in times of rising waters.
With Marialena Marouda and The Oceanographies Institute (TOI), Charlie Usher, queer Black feminist poet and scholar Alexis Pauline Gumbs and the writer, radio dj and educator Peggy Pierrot.
20:00 – Welcome by Goedele Nuyttens (Crosstalks)
20:10 – Marialena Marouda & Charlie Usher: Songing with the Oceanographies Institute
20:30 – Lecture by Alexis Pauline Gumbs (on Zoom)
21:05 – Conversation between Alexis Pauline Gumbs and Peggy Pierrot
21:25 – Q&A with the public
21:40 – End