Public lecture series “Play as a Means of Appropriating the World - Connections to Art and Art Therapy”

Insights into the transformative power of play from 9 October to 11 December 2024 at Alanus University.

This autumn semester, the public lecture series of the Master’s in Art Therapy will once again take place – and for the first time, participation will be possible both on campus and online.

Early childhood play is understood as a necessary pre-verbal form of expression, similar to storytelling, fantasising and dreaming. A wide variety of everyday experiences are processed through play. For adults, too, play is a human activity that makes it possible to try out new and unfamiliar things and to find solutions to problems that may seem unsolvable. Creative, purposeless play therefore also has a therapeutic effect.

In the lecture series, experts from various disciplines explore what play means as a therapeutic medium and how children and adults can gain a better understanding of their own identity. Diverse facets of play are discussed and examined in terms of their role in the process of appropriating the world. Friedrich Schiller once said: “Man is only fully human when he plays.”

Through interdisciplinary perspectives and practical examples, the lecture series provides a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of play in different areas of life. Join us and discover the transformative power of play!

When?

October to December 2024
Wednesdays, 5:45 – 7:15 pm

Dates

09/10/24: “Play as a Means of Appropriating the World: An Introductory Lecture”, Prof. Simone Orb

16/10/24: “To the things themselves”, Prof. Peter Sinapius

23/10/24: “Play as a Space of Free Encounter”, Michael Ganß // This event will take place online only.

30/10/24: Unfortunately cancelled! 

06/11/24: “Play Therapy: a Method of Emotional Self-Expression as well as the Exploration of Potentials and Options for Change”, Dr. Annette de Thier

13/11/24: “The Image as Mirror and Experimental Field – Play as an Art Therapeutic Medium in Adult Psychiatry”, Leonie Mautsch

20/11/24: “No Play Without Freedom? On Art Therapy Work in Juvenile Detention”, Art therapist, working in the prison system // This event will take place on site only.

27/11/24: “Therapeutic Sandplay According to Dora Kalff – Theory and Practice of a Niche Form of Therapy”, Dr. Hildegard Ameln-Haffke

04/12/24: “(Un)limited Spaces for Play in Virtual Reality”, Sarah Thibol and Hojin Lee

11/12/24: “PlaySpaceArtTherapy – On the Significance of the Psychic Function of Play for Art Therapy with Adults”, Prof. Uschi Knott

Venue – on site & online

Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences
Campus II – Villestraße, Semi 7
Villestraße 3
53347 Alfter

Online: Registration for online participation is via ma-kunsttherapie@alanus.edu

Responsible & Coordination

Prof. Dr. Rabea Müller & Prof. Simone Orb

Photo: istock/Detailfoto