April 18-20, 2019, Saint-Petersburg
International conference
"Multi-species neighborness: constructing the social together"
On February 22 - 26, 2022, the Center for Independent Social Research, with the support of the Kone Foundation (Finland), is holding an international conference dedicated to understanding the phenomenon of human neighboring with non-human others.
Format: online and in-person.
Language: Russian/English
Format: online and in-person.
Language: Russian/English
The Anthropocene perspective includes various biological species in the field of research and comprehends the relationships that arise between humans and non-humans, such as animals, plants, insects, microorganisms, viruses, and many others. Contemporary theories reject anthropocentrism, a model based on the dualism of relations between man and nature and the subordination of nature to man. Nowadays, the relationships between people and living organisms are seen as mutual, manifold, and diverse. It is the relationship of various human agents (individual and collective) and various biological species, which are constantly redefined by their participants and range from coexistence and cooperation to conflict and repression. At the conference, we propose to discuss the diversity of such relationships from a perspective of neighborness. By using the concept of neighborness, we would like to emphasize the mutual importance of humans and non-humans in creating forms and meanings of common existence, as well as the importance of space in their emergence and maintenance. Spatial interactions of humans and non-humans exist on different scales, including global chains, transnational associations, as well as situations unfolding in specific localities. Such interactions can be emotionally saturated, included in moral, political and aesthetic systems, and cultural representations.
We are in interested in discussing how the cultures and practices of neighbouring has been changing through time in the post-Soviet space; how neighbour relationships and the role of the Neighbour figure has been transforming.
Neighbourness as a phenomenon with an explicit spatial dimension can be observed at different scales. At the conference, we would like to step beyond the scale of 'close' co-habitation and discuss neighbourness in the neighbourhoods of various scales: in a village, in a metropolitan city, at a national level (border neighbourness).
The theme of neighbourness is initially interdisciplinary and attracts scholars of different research and disciplinary backgrounds. We invite ethnographers, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians to take part in the conference.
The theme of neighbourness is initially interdisciplinary and attracts scholars of different research and disciplinary backgrounds. We invite ethnographers, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians to take part in the conference.
Proposed areas for discussion include (but are not limited to):
- Methodological challenges that accompany the inclusion of non-human natural forms in social research;
- Human neighboring with animals, insects, viruses, plants: spaces, practices, affects, representations;
- New infrastructures, institutions, legal systems emerging to regulate relations between people and other natural forms;
- Contemporary art as a reflection of the relationship between people and non-human natural forms (proposals for art projects on relevant topics for presentation at the conference are welcome);
Tentative programme
37, Bolshoy Prospekt PS , Vedensky Hotel
TUESDAY, 22.01.22
13.00 Guided tour to the Zoological Museum (Universitetskaya embarkment 1, St. Petersburg)
Those who wish to join can write to bred8@yandex.ru until 17.02.
Those who wish to join can write to bred8@yandex.ru until 17.02.
WEDNESDAY, 23.02.22
In English, Moscow Time, online format (Zoom), the link will be distributed on the eve of the event
Session I. Moderator Elena Bogdanova
10.00 – 10.05 Welcoming words
10.05 – 11.00 Keynote: David Redmalm (School of Health, Care and Social Welfare Division of Sociology, Mälardalen University, Sweden) "The centaur turned upside down: Animal riders and minded horses in the riding school"
11.00 – 11.30 Virpi Kaisto (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "The role of non-humans in overcoming the cultural trauma of the loss of Vyborg: An analysis plan for Anna Kortelainen's novel "Siemen""
11.30 – 12.00 Taija Kaarlenkaski (University of Turku/University of Eastern Finland) "Affective Animal Encounters in Urban Environments"
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch Break
10.00 – 10.05 Welcoming words
10.05 – 11.00 Keynote: David Redmalm (School of Health, Care and Social Welfare Division of Sociology, Mälardalen University, Sweden) "The centaur turned upside down: Animal riders and minded horses in the riding school"
11.00 – 11.30 Virpi Kaisto (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "The role of non-humans in overcoming the cultural trauma of the loss of Vyborg: An analysis plan for Anna Kortelainen's novel "Siemen""
11.30 – 12.00 Taija Kaarlenkaski (University of Turku/University of Eastern Finland) "Affective Animal Encounters in Urban Environments"
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch Break
Session II. Moderator Elena Nikiforova
13.00 – 13.30 Jyrki Pöysä (Karelian institute, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "Some methodological and conceptual remarks on studying stories about urban animals"
13.30 – 14.00 Oksana Zaporozhets (Higher School of Economics, Moscow), Olga Tkach (Centre for Independent Social Research, St.Petersburg) "Living with viruses: changing Self and bodily experiences"
14.00 – 14.30 Tiina Seppä (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "Interspecies Communication in Folk Poetry communication between forest and human in folk poetry"
14.30 – 15.00 Goran Đurđević (Beiwai College, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Chen Yarong (School of International Organizations, Beijing Foreign Studies University) "Ten Thousand Things. World-more-than human as actors in Anthropocene: a case study of Beijing Foreign Studies University"
13.00 – 13.30 Jyrki Pöysä (Karelian institute, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "Some methodological and conceptual remarks on studying stories about urban animals"
13.30 – 14.00 Oksana Zaporozhets (Higher School of Economics, Moscow), Olga Tkach (Centre for Independent Social Research, St.Petersburg) "Living with viruses: changing Self and bodily experiences"
14.00 – 14.30 Tiina Seppä (University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) "Interspecies Communication in Folk Poetry communication between forest and human in folk poetry"
14.30 – 15.00 Goran Đurđević (Beiwai College, Beijing Foreign Studies University), Chen Yarong (School of International Organizations, Beijing Foreign Studies University) "Ten Thousand Things. World-more-than human as actors in Anthropocene: a case study of Beijing Foreign Studies University"
THURESDAY, 24.02.22
In Russian, Moscow time, online format (Zoom), the link to be distributed on the eve of the event
Session I. Moderator Oksana Zaporozhets
10.00 – 10.30 Maria Sakaeva (Warsaw University) "Damage, Loss and Death: Perceptions of River-Oil Relations among the Pechora River Residents"
10.30 – 11.00 Timofei Rakov (School of Environmental and Social Studies, Tyumen State University) "Practices of neighboring with the forest: the environment of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok"
11.00 – 11.30 Olga Kudryavtseva (Higher School of Economics, Moscow) "Relationships with animals in Uzbekistan: analysis of the "non-human" in contemporary cultural anthropology"
11.30 – 12.00 Alima Bissenova (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan) ""A man with the character of a horse" - narratives of the revival of horse breeding in Kazakhstan".
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break
10.00 – 10.30 Maria Sakaeva (Warsaw University) "Damage, Loss and Death: Perceptions of River-Oil Relations among the Pechora River Residents"
10.30 – 11.00 Timofei Rakov (School of Environmental and Social Studies, Tyumen State University) "Practices of neighboring with the forest: the environment of the Novosibirsk Academgorodok"
11.00 – 11.30 Olga Kudryavtseva (Higher School of Economics, Moscow) "Relationships with animals in Uzbekistan: analysis of the "non-human" in contemporary cultural anthropology"
11.30 – 12.00 Alima Bissenova (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nazarbayev University, Kazakhstan) ""A man with the character of a horse" - narratives of the revival of horse breeding in Kazakhstan".
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break
Session II. Moderator Olga Tkach
13.00 – 13.30 Kazimera Kordetskaya (Higher School of Economics, Moscow) "The bird market as a phenomenon of late Soviet urban culture".
13.30 – 14.00 Natalia Sorokina (Saratov State Technical University) "Volunteer practices of helping homeless animals in the context of a modern city".
14.00 – 14.30 Tatiana Safonova (independent researcher) "Populist symbiosis: flower propaganda and the fight against unemployment in Hungary"
14.30 – 15.00 Maria Korsun (Samara National Research University) "I didn't know that on the street you can find some many things to eat!" Experience of interaction with the ecological framework of a modern big city.
13.00 – 13.30 Kazimera Kordetskaya (Higher School of Economics, Moscow) "The bird market as a phenomenon of late Soviet urban culture".
13.30 – 14.00 Natalia Sorokina (Saratov State Technical University) "Volunteer practices of helping homeless animals in the context of a modern city".
14.00 – 14.30 Tatiana Safonova (independent researcher) "Populist symbiosis: flower propaganda and the fight against unemployment in Hungary"
14.30 – 15.00 Maria Korsun (Samara National Research University) "I didn't know that on the street you can find some many things to eat!" Experience of interaction with the ecological framework of a modern big city.
FRIDAY, 25.02.22
In Russian, Moscow time, hybrid format: offline at CISR, Office 301, Ligovsky 87, St. Petersburg/online (Zoom), the link will be distributed
Session I. Moderator Elena Nikiforova
10.00 – 10.30 Olga Brednikova (Center for Independent Social Research) "They are such a trifle that they are almost non-existent…": interspecies relations between people and insects in the house.
10.30 – 11.00 Simon Ignatiev (independent researcher) "More-than-human city: bedbugs and the problem of alienation".
11.00 – 11.30 Lidia Rakhmanova (Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg) "Insured" from the field context: on the proximity of ticks and the remoteness of infrastructures.
11.30-12.00 Break
10.00 – 10.30 Olga Brednikova (Center for Independent Social Research) "They are such a trifle that they are almost non-existent…": interspecies relations between people and insects in the house.
10.30 – 11.00 Simon Ignatiev (independent researcher) "More-than-human city: bedbugs and the problem of alienation".
11.00 – 11.30 Lidia Rakhmanova (Higher School of Economics, St. Petersburg) "Insured" from the field context: on the proximity of ticks and the remoteness of infrastructures.
11.30-12.00 Break
Session II. Moderator Elena Bogdanova
12.00 – 12.30 Elena Nikiforova (Centre for Independent Social Research, St. Petersburg) "On human-pet relationships in a big city: overview of social sciences' approaches and first fieldwork results"
12.30 – 13.00 Yakov Shcheglov (Sociological Institute RAS, St. Petersburg, European University at St. Petersburg) "My wife's lovers: changing social status of companion animals in Russia"
13.00 – 13.30 Maria Shchepetneva (independent researcher) "Nobody needs such a neighbor!" Forms of the neighboring of man, hogweed, and others".
13.30– 14.30 Lunch break
12.00 – 12.30 Elena Nikiforova (Centre for Independent Social Research, St. Petersburg) "On human-pet relationships in a big city: overview of social sciences' approaches and first fieldwork results"
12.30 – 13.00 Yakov Shcheglov (Sociological Institute RAS, St. Petersburg, European University at St. Petersburg) "My wife's lovers: changing social status of companion animals in Russia"
13.00 – 13.30 Maria Shchepetneva (independent researcher) "Nobody needs such a neighbor!" Forms of the neighboring of man, hogweed, and others".
13.30– 14.30 Lunch break
Session III. Moderator Olga Brednikova
14.30 – 15.00 Elena Bogdanova (Center for Independent Social Research, St.Petersburg/ European University at St. Petersburg) "The hygiene of a neighborhood and disgust as an incentive to action. An attempt at conceptualization"
15.00 – 15.30 Larisa Shpakovskaya (Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) "Neighboring with viruses or parental doubts about childhood vaccinations"
14.30 – 15.00 Elena Bogdanova (Center for Independent Social Research, St.Petersburg/ European University at St. Petersburg) "The hygiene of a neighborhood and disgust as an incentive to action. An attempt at conceptualization"
15.00 – 15.30 Larisa Shpakovskaya (Sociological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg) "Neighboring with viruses or parental doubts about childhood vaccinations"
Evening program
Location: Competence Centre of the Leningrad oblast', Karpovka embarkment 5P
The event will be held offline, online translation will be provided
NB: for this event separate registration might be required, please keep up eye on the info!
20.30 – 21.30 Anastasia Golovneva, Lyubov Chernysheva "What's stuck to my boots?" Reading a sociological play about the work of a commission that investigates a daring breach of order in a new residential area. Sandwiched between reporting requirements and the fragility of evidence, the commissioners are looking for a perpetrator who didn't clean up after his dog. The play will be read by St. Petersburg dog breeders.
Location: Competence Centre of the Leningrad oblast', Karpovka embarkment 5P
The event will be held offline, online translation will be provided
NB: for this event separate registration might be required, please keep up eye on the info!
20.30 – 21.30 Anastasia Golovneva, Lyubov Chernysheva "What's stuck to my boots?" Reading a sociological play about the work of a commission that investigates a daring breach of order in a new residential area. Sandwiched between reporting requirements and the fragility of evidence, the commissioners are looking for a perpetrator who didn't clean up after his dog. The play will be read by St. Petersburg dog breeders.
SATURDAY 26.02.2022
The "human-nonhuman" relationships through art
In Russian, Moscow time, hybrid format: offline (Centre for Independent Social Research, office 301, Ligovsky 87, St. Petersburg)/ online (Zoom), the link will be distributed
In Russian, Moscow time, hybrid format: offline (Centre for Independent Social Research, office 301, Ligovsky 87, St. Petersburg)/ online (Zoom), the link will be distributed
Session I. Moderator Lera Lerner
11.00 – 11.40 Ekaterina Isaeva (interdisciplinary artist) "Gorilla in Fury, or Understanding Taxidermy in the XXI century"
11.40 – 12.20 Alexandra Abakshina (interdisciplinary artist) Film "Dolly the Sheep, a Holy Animal" (presentation, discussion)
12.20 – 13.00 Linda Kvitkina (independent researcher) Dance as If Nobody Can See, Dance as If You Have a Tail (talk + video demonstration + performance)
13.00 – 13.40 Break
11.00 – 11.40 Ekaterina Isaeva (interdisciplinary artist) "Gorilla in Fury, or Understanding Taxidermy in the XXI century"
11.40 – 12.20 Alexandra Abakshina (interdisciplinary artist) Film "Dolly the Sheep, a Holy Animal" (presentation, discussion)
12.20 – 13.00 Linda Kvitkina (independent researcher) Dance as If Nobody Can See, Dance as If You Have a Tail (talk + video demonstration + performance)
13.00 – 13.40 Break
Session II. Moderator Lera Lerner
13.40 – 14.20 Serafima Sazhina (interdisciplinary artist) Acting Animal in public: an experience of one experiment
14.20 – 15.00 An Encounter with a Mushroom (Fedor Hiroshige, interdisciplinary artist)
13.40 – 14.20 Serafima Sazhina (interdisciplinary artist) Acting Animal in public: an experience of one experiment
14.20 – 15.00 An Encounter with a Mushroom (Fedor Hiroshige, interdisciplinary artist)
With support of
* By decision of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, the CISR is included in the register of non-profit organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent (7-FL "On non-profit organizations")