I AM THE BOUNDARY
OF THE AGORA
OF THE AGORA
paradox of enclosed public space
limits of western, ancient democratic ideal
masculine claiming of boundary selection
diversity as male loss of control&entitlement
entitlement as foundation of patriarchal role
ancient & digital parallels
I
AM THE BOUNDARY
OF THE AGORA
Video, 8:39 min
2025
Lars Oschmann
Video, 8:39 min
2025
Lars Oschmann
🪨I AM THE BOUNDARY OF THE AGORA🪨
🪨 (i am scared of the agora)🪨
🪨The agora is a central element of Western culture, building on the ancient public space of Athens, which is framed and touristified as the cradle of democracy. 🪨What is today’s agora in an age of being chronically online? How does the agora relate to the current challenges of democracy? Who is the “public” in an age of fragmented digital echo-chambers?
🪨 The ancient agora was never a space for all. The ‚public‘ was always limited. It was a male-dominated space. Just like the online agora of the „manosphere“ - a network of online communities promoting the belief that men are being oppressed by feminism and must fight back to protect themselves and society. 🪨
🪨 Through advice on relationships, fitness and finance, men are told to reclaim their patriarchal power to solve their problems of being single, insecure and unsuccessful. (Problems that are often caused by this very patriarchal capitalist role model. The cause is the solution)
🪨 The online agora of the “manosphere” is starting to materialize in real life. The last decade has seen several femicides by incels (involuntarily celibate men), starting with Elliot Rodger in 2014, who became an idol in the subculture. 🪨
🪨Currently, anti-feminist narratives are entering politics and gaining widespread popularity through right-wing populism. An alliance of politicians, entrepreneurs and religious fundamentalists is backlashing into the agoras of western democracies and dismantling the rights of marginalized groups. 🪨
🪨Time to revisit democratic ruins in times of democratic ruin. Let’s look into the mind of the mind of the boundary stone of the agora to connect ancient memory and digital publics. 🪨
🪨Its inscription reads: „I AM THE BOUNDARY OF THE AGORA“. Who is speaking here? All of us, or one male citizen? Who decides about the members and the rights of the public? Is the boundary stone bound to its patriarchal role of protector - even if we no longer need it, once everyone is part of the public? Why is it afraid of losing what it used to control? Does it suffer from Agoraphobia?🪨
based on „Political Masculinity“ by Susanne Kaiser
🪨 (i am scared of the agora)🪨
🪨The agora is a central element of Western culture, building on the ancient public space of Athens, which is framed and touristified as the cradle of democracy. 🪨What is today’s agora in an age of being chronically online? How does the agora relate to the current challenges of democracy? Who is the “public” in an age of fragmented digital echo-chambers?
🪨 The ancient agora was never a space for all. The ‚public‘ was always limited. It was a male-dominated space. Just like the online agora of the „manosphere“ - a network of online communities promoting the belief that men are being oppressed by feminism and must fight back to protect themselves and society. 🪨
🪨 Through advice on relationships, fitness and finance, men are told to reclaim their patriarchal power to solve their problems of being single, insecure and unsuccessful. (Problems that are often caused by this very patriarchal capitalist role model. The cause is the solution)
🪨 The online agora of the “manosphere” is starting to materialize in real life. The last decade has seen several femicides by incels (involuntarily celibate men), starting with Elliot Rodger in 2014, who became an idol in the subculture. 🪨
🪨Currently, anti-feminist narratives are entering politics and gaining widespread popularity through right-wing populism. An alliance of politicians, entrepreneurs and religious fundamentalists is backlashing into the agoras of western democracies and dismantling the rights of marginalized groups. 🪨
🪨Time to revisit democratic ruins in times of democratic ruin. Let’s look into the mind of the mind of the boundary stone of the agora to connect ancient memory and digital publics. 🪨
🪨Its inscription reads: „I AM THE BOUNDARY OF THE AGORA“. Who is speaking here? All of us, or one male citizen? Who decides about the members and the rights of the public? Is the boundary stone bound to its patriarchal role of protector - even if we no longer need it, once everyone is part of the public? Why is it afraid of losing what it used to control? Does it suffer from Agoraphobia?🪨
based on „Political Masculinity“ by Susanne Kaiser