E Pluribus Unum? Communal Futures In Contemporary TV Series

Beschreibung

Guest Lecture by Dr. Christian Krug, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, at the Dpt. of English and American Studies.

 

Television and streaming series are not just entertaining. They allow us to gauge, symptomatically, what societies happen to be concerned with, and their narrative and aesthetic form also provides a unique symbolic form that allows audiences to think through both political and philosophical questions. The spate of postapocalyptic and posthuman series currently streaming is a case in point: In deeply divided and polarized societies, they offer a site where questions of communal bonds and social futures can be discussed. Christian Krug's talk will focus specifically on Westworld (HBO, 2016–22) and Pluribus (Apple TV, since 2025). These shows employ a 'sentimental politics' to project, or reject, communal futures after the 'end of humanity' (as we know it). Finally, Krug will explore the various ways these shows, frequently labelled and commodified as 'Quality' or 'Prestige' TV series, may be analyzed within the field of contemporary cultural studies.

Veranstalter

Department of English and American Studies

Kontakt

Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Alexandra Ganser-Blumenau
Universität Wien
Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik
+43-1-4277-42414
alexandra.ganser(at)univie.ac.at

Erstellt am Mittwoch, 11. März 2026, 15:11
Letzte Änderung am Montag, 16. März 2026, 11:38