The lecture and book launch by Michel Maffesoli concluded the Brazil/France Seminar at Univille.

The sociologist presented his perspective on understanding the present and the new bonds reshaping the future of human relationships.

The final guest of the Brazil/France Seminar: Art, Communication and Education, French sociologist Michel Maffesoli was welcomed by a full auditorium at Univille on Friday, May 17. During his lecture, Maffesoli encouraged the audience to look beyond rationality, recognizing the strength of imagination, collective experience, and everyday life in shaping society.

During the event, Editora Univille launched the book The Postmodern Being, translated from the original work of the professor and scholar, who is regarded as one of the leading contemporary thinkers.

In his book, Michel Maffesoli offers a direct and thought-provoking interpretation of the transformations in social life over recent decades. The concept of “tribalism” is widely explored by the author from the perspective that contemporary society is increasingly organized into micro-communities. These groups are formed through cultural affinities, lifestyles, shared interests, and emotional identifications.

Who is Michel Maffesoli?

He holds a PhD in Human and Social Sciences and Sociology from the University of Grenoble, France, and completed postgraduate studies at the University of Strasbourg. He attended secondary school in Montpellier.

In 1992, he received the Grand Prix des Sciences Humaines from the French Academy for his work La transfiguration du politique. He is Professor Emeritus at the Sorbonne University, a member of the University Institute of France, and holds honorary doctorates from several universities.

He is the author of numerous works, including The Time of the Tribes (1988), On Nomadism (1997), The Word of Silence (2016), and Ecosophy (2017).

First Round of Lectures

On May 11, the academic community and invited guests attended a morning dedicated to different perspectives on art, communication, and education from contemporary viewpoints. The featured speakers were: Zé Kielwagen, artist and professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Vicenzo Susca, sociologist and professor at the Paul-Valéry University Montpellier 3, and author of the book After Art: Genealogy of the Cultural Industry, the first foreign-language publication released by Editora Univille, launched on May 9; and Raquel de Castro Boechat, founder and CEO of Canada StartHub and director of the Brazil-Canada Chamber of Commerce.

The Brazil/France Seminar was an initiative of the Graduate Programs in Communication, Education, and Cultural Heritage and Society, as well as the Visual Arts program and Editora Univille.

“Imaginary Museum” Exhibition

On Friday, May 17, as part of the event program, the exhibition Imaginary Museum opened, developed by students from the Visual Arts program at Univille. Proposed by Professor Flavia Scoz, the project was created in collaboration with artist and professor Zé Kielwagen from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

The wooden installation, assembled over the years, serves as an artistic expression featuring various objects and elements. In addition to being a space for contemplation, the initiative also aims to promote the exchange of experiences through workshops and open conversations among students.

The exhibition is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., on the first floor of the University Library at Univille. The exhibition remains open until April 29.