MONOCULTURE | Une histoire récente

Title: Englishes

‘Englishes’ is a term introduced by Nicoline van Harskamp to describe the widespread use and modification of the English language by its non-native speakers. It is also the title of van Harskamp’s video series about the political import of this linguistic development, and the loss of the perceived position of primacy occupied by dominant strains of English. Subsequent video and performative works explore the potential of incomprehensibility in spoken, multilingual interaction. On February 25th, 2020, the second international cycle of van Harskamp’s online project Englishes MOOC opened. Using the medium favoured by English language universities to expand their operations and status globally – the Massive Online Open Course – van Harskamp aims to emancipate art makers in their use of English as a medium of expression, mediation and education. Englishes MOOC helps to develop practical skills towards shaping new varieties of English, according to the (artistic) needs of its users, and offers a platform for discussion on the topic.

Bio: Nicoline van Harskamp is an Amsterdam-based artist whose work considers acts of language and communication in relation to ideology and solidarity through video, installation, and scripted performance. Her live pieces were staged, among other places, at Steirischer Herbst in Graz, Tate Modern in London, KunstWerke in Berlin, Witte de With in Rotterdam, New Museum in New York, Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Arnolfini in Bristol, Serralves Foundation in Porto, and the Kaaitheater in Brussels. She is a Professor of Performative Art at the University of Fine Arts in Münster, Germany.