Holberg Prize Talks

Stephen Greenblatt, John Cogan University Professor at Harvard University, is the 2016 Holberg Laureate. In this interview Greenblatt shares his thoughts on the role of New Historicism in literary studies, the socio-economic changes in the US in the 1960's and 1970's, and how the work of William Shakespeare is still relevant today, 400 years after his death. Greenblatt is interviewed by Charles Ivan Armstrong, Professor of English Literature at the University of Agder. The production is a collaboration between the Holberg Prize and the University of Bergen.

Marina Warner received the Holberg Prize in 2015 for her work on the analysis of stories and myths and how they reflect their time and place. Professor Dame Marina Warner, FBA, is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Birkbeck College, University of London, Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, and Professorial Research Fellow at SOAS. Warner is Interviewed by Kari Jegerstedt from the University of Bergen.

This lecture by Manuel Castells was held at the University of Nordland in Bodø, 15 May, 2014 as part of a series of Holberg Lectures celebrating the 10th year anniversary of the Holberg Prize. The Holberg Prize is awarded annually to scholars who have made outstanding contributions to research in the arts and humanities, social science, law or theology. Manuel Castells recieved the Holberg Prize in 2014.

Fifty years after the 1968 revolt, how important are affects in influencing the behavior of voters, activists and policy makers? Achille Mbembe, Kathleen Cleaver and George Galloway met in Bergen on 1 December, 2018 to discuss these issues at the Holberg Debate: "Politics and Affects: The Dynamics of Social Mobilization". This recording is the keynote George Galloway held at the debate. George Galloway is a British politician, activist, writer and broadcaster. He is a former Member of Parliament in the UK and has been a vocal participant in public debate over the last five decades, particularly in matters related to anti-war efforts, Middle East conflicts, racism and class struggle.

Fifty years after the 1968 revolt, how important are affects in influencing the behavior of voters, activists and policy makers? Achille Mbembe, Kathleen Cleaver and George Galloway met in Bergen on 1December, 2018 to discuss these issues at the 2018 Holberg Debate: "Politics and Affects: The Dynamics of Social Mobilization" This recording is the keynote Achille Mbembe held at the debate. Achille Mbembe is a Cameroonian historian, philosopher and political theorist who specializes in African history and politics. He is Professor at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Mbembe is particularly well known for his work on post-colonialism and race.

The Danish theologian Frederik Poulsen was awarded the 2020 Nils Klim Prize for his outstanding contributions to Old Testament Studies. His work is characterised by an innovative combination of historical-critical and literary methodologies that have enabled him to cast new light on the ancient texts of the bible. Frederik Poulsen is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Theology at the University of Copenhagen. Interviewer: Anne Katrine de Hemmer Gudme, Professor in theology, University of Oslo.

Professor Timothy Garton Ash of the University of Oxford is the keynote speaker of the first Holberg Debate in 2016. He was invited to elaborate on the central themes of his book "Free Speech: Ten Principles for a Connected World". Following an interview with Anine Kierulf, Professor Garton Ash joins in a panel discussion with Jostein Gripsrud and Kari Steen-Johnsen about dilemmas related to free speech, information controll and the need for civilized conflict in modern multicultural societies.

The 2020 Holberg Prize is awarded to British-Canadian scholar Griselda Pollock for her groundbreaking contributions to feminist art history and cultural studies. In this interview, Pollock discusses her background and her research, the history of art history, the women's movement, and more. Griselda Pollock is Professor of Social and Critical Histories of Art and Director of CentreCATH (Centre for Cultural Analysis, Theory & History) at the University of Leeds. Interviewer: Mathias Danbolt, Associate Professor of Art History, University of Copenhagen.

At the 2020 Holberg Debate, Amb. John Bolton and Member of the Hellenic Parliament Yanis Varoufakis discussed current threats to regional and global stability. The debate took place on 5 December and was chaired from Bergen, Norway. At the 2020 Holberg Debate we were joined via videolink by two top speakers who have both been important policy makers at crucial times in their respective countries: Member of the Hellenic Parliament and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis and Ambassador John Bolton (US), former National Security Advisor and US Ambassador to the UN. Moderator for the event is Scott Gates, Professor of Political Science at the University of Oslo (UiO), as well as Guest Researcher at UiO’s Department of Economics and Research Professor at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). The Holberg Debate is an annual event organised by the Holberg Prize. The debate is inspired by Ludvig Holberg's Enlightenment ideas and aims to explore pressing issues of our time.

Slavoj Žižek has been called the «the most dangerous philosopher in the West» and a cultural theorist superstar, as he mixes Marxism with pop culture and psychoanalysis. In an age where the principles of the free marked have become the driving force of both the economy, public services, foreign policy, and education, “communism” remains a dirty word among the political establishment. Three decades after the fall of «Communism» in Eastern Europe, so why does Žižek still call himself a communist? Programme: - Introduction by Ellen Mortensen, Academic Director of the Holberg Prize - Keynote adress by Professor Slavoj Žižek, Senior Researcher in Philosophy at the University of Ljubljana - Slavoj Žižek is interviewed by Professor Tyler Cowen, Holberg L. Harris Professor of Economics at George Mason University Q&A with video link participants and the live audience - End of event Time: 7 December, 2019 Venue: The University Aula in Bergen, Norway