Film series and discussion: Who’s Got the Power?

Plakat zur Filmreihe © Bonn Center for Dependancy and Slavery Studies . Cluster of Excellence BCDSS at the University of Bonn shows films about strong asymmetrical power relations and dependencies Who's Got the Power? This is the question addressed in a new film series by the Center for Dependency and Slavery Studies (BCDSS) at the University of Bonn and Förderverein Filmkultur, a film funding association in Bonn. The launch of the film series marks the start of a multi-year cooperation between these two institutions. The films will examine various scenarios of human oppression and strong asymmetrical dependency relationships, beginning with the award-winning film "La Pirogue" by Moussa Touré on April 28 at 8 p.m. at the Kino in der Brotfabrik, Bonn (Kreuzstraße 16). The format "screening plus talk" will offer a space for researchers, film makers, and the public to enter into a dialogue. Regardless of culture, region or era, human oppression can be found anywhere in the world. They appear in the shape of slavery, serfdom, debt bondage, forced labor and child labor, human trafficking, domestic violence or sexual exploitation. Strong asymmetrical power relations and dependencies seem to be a universal social phenomenon. The international researchers at the BCDSS explore the phenomenon of slavery and other forms of strong asymmetrical dependencies from numerous perspectives within the humanities and social sciences. In doing so, the various lives of oppressed people should be brought to the fore. Through their perspectives, the prevailing view of history is extended and revised, giving way to many pressing questions: What are the mechanisms behind the hierarchisation of society?