Open talks in Läsesalen
For students and staff at the Joint Faculties of Humanities and Theology
During the semester, there will be exciting open talks on a variety of topics for all students and staff in Läsesalen at LUX.
Upcoming events will be posted soon!
Spring programme:
3 april | Emma Severinsson – "A little paraffin here and a plastic surgery there" – the history of early beauty procedures (in Swedish)
Today, various types of beauty procedures such as botox and fillers are increasing, something that is being widely discussed. More and more men choose to undergo beauty procedures. Already 100 years ago, beauty surgeries were performed and paraffin was injected to smooth out the skin or reshape noses. At that time, both women and men were equally inclined to try the new methods. In the early 1920s, the new possibilities to change the appearance of the body were celebrated, but soon criticism arose because the injections turned out to be dangerous.
20 mars | Ulf Zander – Raoul Wallenbergs life and legend (in Swedish)
The Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg's humanitarian efforts in Budapest during World War II, combined with the uncertainty about what happened to him at the end of the war, still fascinate us today. His deeds and fate have inspired countless films, TV series, and books over the years. Streets and squares bear his name. But what did his life really look like? And where does the legend begin?
March 13 | Martin Lembke – Does God Exist? (in Swedish)
Which option is more likely: that God exists or that God does not exist? One thing is certain, however: on both sides of this age-old question, we find thought-provoking arguments. These arguments become particularly interesting when they relate to modern scientific findings. For example, does the Big Bang, approximately 13.8 billion years ago, suggest the existence of a supernatural creator of the universe? Or does the blood-stained history of evolution rather imply the opposite? In short, we will focus precisely on this: the best arguments throughout world history for and against the existence of God.
February 28 | David Larsson Heidenblad – Take Your Time: Do Less, but Better (in Swedish)
Is it possible to achieve more important things by working less? Historian David Larsson Heidenblad believes so. He argues that the art of prioritizing, taking breaks, and safeguarding one's own and others' focus is the key to a better and more productive work life. In conversation with Martin Degrell, he provides insights into techniques and mindsets that are directly applicable for students and researchers.
13th December | 2023 | Aaron James Goldman – Donald Trump, Conspiracy Theories, and Professional Wrestling
Why have American right-wing conspiracists, such as QAnon, treated Donald Trump as a religious hero? Aaron James Goldman argues that the answer involves the theatrics of American professional wrestling.
22 November | 2023 | Claes Lindskog – Artificial intelligence and academic writing (in Swedish)
AI is swiftly changing our idea of what academic writing is and should be. But where are we heading? What are we afraid of that AI will do with university studies over the next hundred or five hundred years? And what are we hoping for?
25 October | 2023 | Matthew Tompkins – The Haunted History of Experimental Psychology
On Sunday the 18th of November 1877, at 3pm in the afternoon, Wilhelm Wundt the ’Founder of Experimental Psychology’ joined a renowned group of physicists to witness a series of ‘miracles’ conjured by a spiritual medium. This talk will explore how magic, mysticism, and fraud influenced the establishment of psychology as a scientific discipline.
