Presenation by Dr Craig Hammond on some of the main ideas associated with Ernst Bloch - in relation to Art, Utopia, Trace-Awakenings and the Not-Yet.

2. INTRODUCTION TO ERNST BLOCH
Everyday Culture & Utopian Traces

3. But first, some guiding theoretical principles …

4. Guy Debord & the S.I.

5. Ernst Bloch
• … the neglect of Bloch is due to the fact that
his system, a doctrine of hope and ontological
anticipation, is … like an aerolite fallen from
space, covered with mysterious hieroglyphs
that radiate a peculiar inner warmth and
power, spells and the key to spells, themselves
patiently waiting for their own ultimate
moment of decipherment. (Jameson, 1971: 158-9).

6. Ernst Bloch
• The Principle of Hope, Traces, Spirit of Utopia, A
Philosophy of the Future
• Art & Utopia (not Eutopia)
• Daydreams … of Utopia (fairytales)
• The Not-Yet
• The sky-blue day-dreams that we occasionally wander
into, suggest an unquenchable utopian ‘landscape’
• As we look into the blue, into ‘the landscape within’,
we gaze into the untold expanse of the utopian mind

7. Ernst Bloch – The Spirit of Utopia
• One of the main themes of this book is the spiritual
disconnection created by the mundane ‘modern’
world, with its cold scientific rationality.
• The soul weeps inside us, and aches to move beyond
the limits of the ‘I’ – it is the soul that creates the
bridge between ‘I and You’ (We).
• The soul – the core of our being, is the thing that unites
us. The soul, is the dream-water into which we dive,
when we experience utopistic self-encounters
• The utopian spirit – is a ubiquitous ‘essence’ that
connects the human soul

8. Ernst Bloch
… Something's
Missing …

10. Ernst Bloch – The Spirit of Utopia
• Think about your own experiences of ‘culture’
• For Bloch – memory is of profound
importance (anamnesis / anagnorisis)
• What ‘self-encounters’ have you experienced
• Were there elements of the Not-Yet?

11. Ernst Bloch – The Spirit of Utopia
• All forms of art can provide a ‘window’ beyond
spiritual disconnection … the mundane ‘modern’
world & technology.
• Art can prompt us to ‘remember’, and ache to
move beyond current limits and constraints.
• Utopian self-encounters via art remind us we
want to “sing a better song”
• This utopian spirit & experience of art unites
humanity
• A future oriented hope for tomorrow can change
lives …

12. Sing a better Song