Postdoctoral Fellow in Dramaturgy – 2047 – Deadline 28 November 2019

Aarhus University, School of Communication and Culture – Dramaturgy – Faculty: Arts

Published 17 Oct 2019

Deadline 28 Nov 2019

Expected start date 1 Mar 2020

School of Communication and Culture – Dramaturgy, Langelandsgade 139, 8000 Aarhus C

Fixed term full-time position 1 Mar 2020 – 31 Aug 2022

JOB ID: 2047APPLY

Job profile

The Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology within the School of Communication and Culture invites applications for a fixed-term, 30-month postdoctoral fellowship, connected to the research project “Reconfiguring Dramaturgy for a Global Culture: Changing Practices in 21st Century European Theatre” under Professor Peter M. Boenisch (project manager), funded by the Aarhus University Research Foundation.

The position is full-time, and available from 1 March 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The place of employment is the Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology, Langelandsgade 139, DK-8000 Aarhus C.

The School of Communication and Culture is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from all candidates regardless of their personal background.

Research context

The project “Reconfiguring Dramaturgy for a Global Culture: Changing Practices in 21st Century European Theatre” interrogates the fundamental reconfiguration of the field of European theatre (and the arts more widely), as arts institutions and artistic practices lose their traditional grounding within a predominantly middle-class ‘enlightenment’ culture of Bildung. The challenges posed by globalisation and digitalisation, by demographic changes, but also by ecological threats, societal ruptures, the relativisation of a fact-based ethics of knowledge and community and the spread of populism also require a new approach to the research of dramaturgic practice that is responsive to the debates and issues in the profession. The research team, consisting of the postdoctoral researcher described in this advertisement, a PhD student and a student helper, and headed by Professor of Dramaturgy Peter M. Boenisch, will investigate the resulting transformations at institutional and aesthetic level through trans-European comparative studies. A specific focus will be placed on the contextual analysis of ‘second cities’, such as Aarhus, where the situation poses notably different issues and challenges compared to global cosmopolitan centres such as London, Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen, which typically are at the forefront of academic attention. The project’s three work strands are dedicated to reconfigurations of institutional dramaturgies, of dramaturgies of production, and of dramaturgic pedagogy. The project team will also lead a newly formed research group within Aarhus University’s “Cultural Transformations” programme, an interdisciplinary research cluster within the School of Communication and Culture that comprises 16 research groups which examine aspects of the changing social roles of the arts and culture. The working language is English.

Research profile – purpose and tasks of the position:

Within the context detailed above, the postdoctoral researcher will work as a key member of the small project team. S/he will take on the self-directed responsibility to define and lead a specific sub-project concentrating on the intersection of institutional dramaturgy and aesthetic practices of creation. The successful applicant will undertake empirical research on a comparative, European dimension. S/he will scope, document and present relevant current case studies, and critically analyse them with a view to modelling adequate, innovative theoretical and conceptual frameworks as well as their pedagogic implementation. The researcher will interact with theatre institutions, artists and various publics locally as well as abroad. S/he will generate primary case study material through interviews, on-site visits and analysis, and archival work and documentation. The researcher will be supported in publishing their research findings in essays, book chapters and possibly a monograph, as well as representing the research group at national and international conferences. The researcher will also contribute to the organisation of public events, symposia and the publication of an edited book collection, as well as playing a central role in the generation of knowledge transfer and public engagement materials, initiatives and activities.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD degree or must document equivalent qualifications in theatre studies, dramaturgy, or a cognate discipline.

Applicants must be able to document expertise in the following areas:

  • The interdependence of artistic creation and its institutional production.
  • Current discourses and critical approaches in theatre studies, institutional critique, and the wider field of art and culture.
  • The productive exchange between academic research and artistic work.
  • The articulation and communication of original ideas and methodologies, demonstrated above all by an outstanding and innovative doctoral dissertation, ideally in an area related to and relevant for the project, and potentially a track record of research publications of a high international standard, as commensurate with the length of the applicant’s academic career.
  • The successful applicant will demonstrate experience in the self-directed management of research projects, preferably including fieldwork.
  • S/he will also demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills, in order to engage productively both within the research team and with external organisations and institutions.

Applicants should also have experience in engaging in their research with comparative, trans-cultural and/or trans-national contexts in the performing arts. It will also be regarded as an advantage if applicants can document:

  • Experience of knowledge transfer, public engagement, and the use of digital dissemination media.

In addition to the standard application documents, applicants must submit the following documents:

  • A concise description of their research profile and experience (max. two pages).
  • A research proposal for a sub-project to be undertaken within the stated framework of the funded research project (max. three pages).

The researcher will be based at the Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology at Aarhus University. On-site presence and engagement with the research team is a requirement. While undertaking periods of fieldwork abroad, the applicant will also be expected to engage with local, regional and national partners and stakeholders in Denmark. Proficiency in academic English is a prerequisite; and if the successful applicant does not speak Danish, s/he must be willing to acquire a working knowledge of this language. It will also be regarded as an advantage if applicants have additional language skills and proficiency in at least one other European language. This is with a view to undertaking comparative, trans-European case study work.

For further information about the position, please contact the project manager, Professor Peter M. Boenisch, e-mail peter.boenisch@cc.au.dk

Institutional context

The Faculty of Arts at Aarhus University is one of the largest environments for interdisciplinary research and education in the humanities in Northern Europe, dedicated to the investigation of cultural and social forms of expression and practice. Situated within the Department of Dramaturgy and Musicology, part of the School of Communication and Culture, and based on the AU Kasernen Arts campus, the dramaturgy programme, with its dedicated BA and MA courses in dramaturgy (as distinct from purely theoretical theatre studies), celebrated its 60th anniversary in September 2019. It has developed a distinct profile in research and education combining theoretical and practical exploration with strict scientific rigour. The programmes cover all aspects of dramaturgic education, from theatre history to performance analysis, arts management, theatre pedagogy and community work, with ample opportunities for students to ‘do’ dramaturgy in the department’s own theatre facilities as well as to engage with professional partners as part of their education. The dramaturgy programme benefits from many long-standing partnerships with local, national and international artists and institutions, not least Eugenio Barba’s Odin Teatret, based in nearby Holstebro, and the vibrant local theatre, dance and performance scene in Aarhus. It was recently closely involved in the delivery and evaluation of the Aarhus European City of Culture 2017 programme. Core research topics address immersive and participatory dramaturgies and institutional dramaturgy. Since 2019, and alongside the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London and the University of Kent at Canterbury, the department has been a managing partner of the European Theatre Research Network (ETRN), to whose activities the department has contributed as an affiliated partner for many years.

Qualification requirements

Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.

Formalities

Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).

All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background.

Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: http://talent.au.dk/junior-researchers-at-aarhus-university/the-junior-researcher-development-programme/

Faculty of Arts

The Faculty of Arts is one of four main academic areas at Aarhus University.
The faculty contributes to Aarhus University’s research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.

With its 500 academic staff members, 260 PhD students, 10,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment. The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society, the Danish School of Education, and the Centre for Teaching Development and Digital Media. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education. The faculty’s academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.

Read more at arts.au.dk/en

The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.

https://international.au.dk/about/profile/vacant-positions/job/postdoctoral-fellow-in-dramaturgy-2047/