Invitation to the Defense of Cathérine Lehnerer

The Examination Panel is made up of: Univ. Prof. Dr. Carolin Bohlmann (chair),  Univ.-Prof. Dr.Phil. Marina Grzinic Mauhler (supervisor), Univ.-Prof. Dr. Sylvia Kesper-Biermann (external appraiser).

The defense will take place in German in the Anatomy Hall at the Academy. 

Abstract

This dissertation entitled "Philosophical Questions on New Possibilities of Participation in Educational Processes" examines how the autobiographical comic as a creative medium can open new ways of participation in education. This transdisciplinary work combines theoretical approaches from critical pedagogy, queer-feminist theory and radical democratic philosophy of education to experiment with innovative forms of learning and teaching. The focus is on a critical examination of power structures and mechanisms of exclusion that prevail in traditional education systems. Another focus of the dissertation is the analysis of autobiographical comics that deal with topics such as exclusion, participation and resistance. These works offer new perspectives on educational processes by linking personal experiences with broader social issues. The combination of art and education not only encourages critical reflection, but also enables learners to tell their own stories and see themselves as active agents in shaping their educational journeys. To this end, an experimental workshop format has been developed that challenges existing hierarchies in the education sector and creates a space for dialogical learning. Participants are encouraged to actively shape their educational processes and thus expand their emancipatory skills. The results of the dissertation show that both teachers and learners can make an important contribution to a democratic, participatory and inclusive educational culture through the conscious use of creative media such as autobiographical comics. This form of democratic education is essential for a society based on emancipation, participation and equality. 
Keywords: participation, education, autobiographical comic, critical pedagogy, democratic education, emancipation, exclusion, resistance, dialogical learning, radical democratic theory 

Short biography

Cathérine Lehnerer combines theory and practice in the fields of aesthetic philosophy, pedagogy, and visual arts as a teacher, doctoral candidate, and comic artist. Following her teacher training studies at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Nuremberg/Erlangen, she can look back on more than ten years of teaching experience, during which she has designed and conducted participatory comic workshops.