BGHS.NEWS

Linie 4 - On closeness and distance

In May and June 2025, the public lecture series "Linie 4 - News from Social Science and Historical Research", organised by the BGHS in cooperation with the VHS Bielefeld, will take place for the ninth time. Three doctoral researchers from the BGHS present their current research work in a clear and understandable way and discuss it with the audience of the VHS. This time, the focus is on different kinds of experiences of proximity and distance. The lectures take place on Wednesdays from 6.15-8pm at the VHS Bielefeld in Ravensberger Park.

On 7 May, the first lecture will lead us to the moon. In her lecture "A New Space to the Moon? The Moon as a Stage for Contemporary World Politics", political scientist Christina Zschieschang will report on the fundamental principles and trends of space politics and show the impact of current political events on lunar politics. She deals with questions such as: What are the consequences of Donald Trump's election as US President? What role do private companies like SpaceX play? And what does the war in Ukraine have to do with the moon?

On 21 May, sociologist Malin Houben will explore the intimate sphere in her lecture "Quite intimate! How to create closeness and distance with all your senses during gynaecological examinations". For her doctoral thesis, she visited a gynaecological practice and witnessed numerous conversations and gynaecological examinations. She observed how words, gestures and looks are used to create the necessary closeness for the examination, but also professional distance.

The third lecture on 4 June is all about historical distance. In his lecture "More than politics. Morality and the good life at the princely court of the 16th century", historian Stefan Roepke will address the question of how it is possible to adequately understand descriptions of life from past times. Based on the autobiography of the Silesian knight Hans von Schweinichen (1552-1616), he shows that the ideals of court life were not just politics and how they were actually lived and experienced by the courtiers.

The three presentations offer insight into the research conducted at the BGHS. As in previous years, however, the main focus will be on the exchange between the doctoral researchers and the audience at the VHS Bielefeld. Vivid presentations, clever follow-up questions and exciting discussions are intended to bring the University and the city of Bielefeld a little closer together. The lectures are in German.