The Art of Being Many ─ Towards a New Theory and Practice of Gathering

We are witnessing new ways of assembling that have made the word "democracy" take on renewed importance. These events might not have led to the political changes many hoped for. Nevertheless, their importance cannot be denied. This book wants to acknowledge them as a starting point for a new art of being many: the "many" invoke new concepts of collectivity by renegotiating their modes of participation and (self-)presentation and by rewriting rhetorical, choreographical, and material scripts of assembling. This volume is inspired and informed by the square-squattings and neighborhood assemblies of the "real democracy" movements as well as by recent explorations of the assembly form in performance art and participatory theater.

geheimagentur is an open collective working in performance art, cultural studies, and activism.

Martin Jorg Schafer teaches literature and performance studies at the University of Hamburg, Germany.

Vassilis S. Tsianos teaches sociology at the University for Applied Sciences, Kiel, Germany.