PHILOSOPHY SALON with Ingo Farin

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It used to be said that philosophers think about the good life. These days, we are more inclined to discuss the bad state of the world in general and how it affects our own wellbeing. Moreover, the old fixation on the eternal has given way to a fascination with decline, catastrophe, and the looming collapse of civilization and the destruction of the earth as we know it. Do we still have a handle on truth, or values, or is it all relative? Is the crisis or poly-crisis of our days descending into outright chaos or nihilism? If life on earth, even the earth itself, is at risk through climate change or nuclear war, what real, emotional, and intellectual allegiance and resonance connects us to the earth? Is there a meaningful adaptation, deep or otherwise, to the crisis? Or do we first need to re-think who we are and what there is? 

We meet every Wednesday from 7-9pm at TopSpaceStudio, 109 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.
As new themes may emerge in the discussion, we will make room to accommodate them as well. References to philosophers will be explained and put in perspective. There are no philosophical prerequisites for this Philosophy Salon.

Week 1: Truth. Is truth relative? What if we cannot agree on what truth is? Is truth a secret death-wish? How are truth and power related? How are truth and trust related? Has science a monopoly on truth? 

Week 2: Values, criticism, power, tradition, and common sense. The problem of nihilism.  

Week 3: How do truth, values, and power play out in politics, society, and culture today?  

Week 4: Crisis and poly-crisis. Crisis of Civilisation? Sustainability, adaptation, deep adaptation, regime change, collapse? Is there an upside to societal collapse on the global scale?   

Week 5: Beyond control and power: poetically living together on earth in precarious times.

The Philosophy Salon encourages open and respectful discussion. Ingo will give brief introductory remarks before each session. Suggestions and links for short readings (from Cervantes to Nietzsche, Freud, Weber, Wendy Brown, Jem Bendell, Peter Turchin, Hartmut Rosa, Andreas Reckwitz, and others) will be provided throughout these five weeks. The main purpose is to facilitate a deeper exploration of our contemporary world for everyone by listening and participating in the discussions. 


The Analogue Project

This is a hands-on workshop that will give you the opportunity to learn about and try out the various kinds of analogue cameras that are readily available. From retro cameras to contemporary film cameras (e.g. pinhole, Lomography and Polaroid), in 35mm, medium, and large format. You will learn about their creative possibilities and what they can and cannot do.

We will spend the morning with an introduction to analogue cameras and film. We will touch on exposure, aperture, light meters and what types of cameras to use where and when. In the afternoon you'll be working with the camera of your choice in the studio or on location (depending on your interests). This workshop is not about creating postcard images but about experimentation and open new ways of seeing, but most of all, to play and have fun.

This workshop is a fun day of experimentation and discovery.


B&W Darkroom Film Processing and Printing

Sunday, 24th August 2025, from 10am - 4pm

If you just shot a roll of film, or for those who want to go further from the analogue workshop the day before, this is a full day in the darkroom, processing and printing their own Black &White film. We’ll process our films, learn about different developers and will make proof sheets to discuss editing, cropping and what makes an interesting picture.

Workshop Fee is $ 180 (Students $ 160) (2 - 4 participant)

Register here

Previous workshops


 
 
 

Wetplate Collodion Tintype with Phillip England

In this workshop you will learn all aspects of producing a wetplate collodion tintype: preparing the plate, setting up the camera, lighting the subject, developing the tintype and varnishing the finished plate. You will learn the basics of the chemistry behind the process and equip yourself with the knowledge required to make up your own reagents from scratch.

9th December 2023, 11am - 4pm

Workshop Fee: $ 280 including all materials
The Workshop is held at our Darkroom in Blackmans Bay.

Book here

Phillip England (a.k.a. Tasmanian Tintype https://tasmaniantintype.com/ ) has been making tintypes for eight years and has established himself as a sought after after tintype portrait photographer based in the Salamanca Arts Centre. A selection of his portraits can be seen here https://phillipengland.com/portraits/