Thrilling! Contemporary Extremity

Back: Prof Robert Vosloo, Dr Gerrit Brand, Prof Jeremy Punt. Front: Prof Amanda du Preez, Prof Nico Koopman (dean), Antjie Krog

The lecture entitled: Thrilling! Transcendence and the contemporary cultures of the extreme explored the ways in which extremity is utilised in contemporary popular visual culture to push human experiences to the extreme. By looking specifically at extreme sports and adventures and how they are visually represented in the key concepts of ‘the ecstasy of speed’, immersion and immediacy, as well as the shrinking landscape were illuminated.

The other presenters were poet Antjie Krog who spoke on inter-culturality, as well as Prof Nico Koopman, dean of the Faculty of Theology presenting on the topic of hybridity and Prof Jeremy Punt dealing with popular music and the Bible.

Prof du Preez’s presentation is available here.