The conference The ambivalent power of fantasy - historical and current debates is preceded by a lecture series that will stimulate discussions on current social fields in six evening lectures from April to June 2026 and thus prepare the conference. In this way, the current relevance of the topic will first be explored before a systematic evaluation is carried out with the conference.

Dates: each Monday 18.00 s.t - 19.30 h

• April 13
  Imagination in the lifecourse. A sociocultural perspective
  Prof. Dr. Tania Zittoun (Sociocultural Psychology, University of Neuchâtel)
   
• April 20
  Modi des Imaginierens - Medienpsychologische Perspektiven
  Prof. Dr. Tobias Rothmund (Communication and Media Psychology, University of Jena)
   
• April 27
  Wahre Volksvertretung. Demokratische Vorstellungswelten in der politischen Kulturgeschichte (Ost-)Deutschlands
  Prof. Dr. Christina Morina (History, University of Bielefeld)
   
• May 04
  Kreativität und Originalität in literarischer und juristischer Perspektive
  Prof. Dr. Volker Jänich (Law, University of Jena)
  Prof. Dr. Dirk von Petersdorff (German Studies, University of Jena)
   
• May 11
  Imaginationen der Materie – Gaston Bachelard und die Künste seiner Zeit
  Prof. Dr. Hans-Jörg Rheinberger (History of Science, Berlin)
   
• May 18
  Imaginaria. Phantastische Welten in Gegenwartsliteratur und Musik
  Dr. des. Andrin Albrecht (English / American Studies, Jena)