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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

This winter semester, “Denkraum Theorie,” led by @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social and hosted by @zthf.bsky.social at Bielefeld University, will explore Material-Relational Ontologies and Historical Thinking. Open to students and doctoral researchers, with discussions in German and English. Join us!

German-language poster for Bielefeld University’s winter 2026/27 “Denkraum Theorie” study group on Material-Relational Ontologies and Historical Thinking. Sessions take place in room X-A2-103 on 16 and 30 October, 13 November, and 11 December 2026, and 22 January 2027. Registration is via eKVV.

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Geschichtstheorie am Werk @hist-theory.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

What do physics and matter have to do with the theory of history? How have models of physical reality shaped our understanding of history? Can quantum mechanics help us rethink it? Asks @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social in her inaugural essay for the MOTH blog. #TheoryOfHistory #Materiality

gtw.hypotheses.org

Rethinking the Ontology of History: From Things of the Past to the Quantum Nature of Historical Phenomena

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Geschichtstheorie am Werk @hist-theory.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

A warm welcome to the MOTH blog, now part of Theory of History at Work! Follow the @volkswagenstiftung.de funded project "Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History" (MOTH) as it explores new ways of thinking about history and materiality. #TheoryOfHistory #Materiality #MOTH

gtw.hypotheses.org

Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History (MOTH)

Rethinking the Ontology of History: From Things of the Past to the Quantum Nature of Historical Phenomena. By Lisa Regazzoni What does history have to do with physics? Or matter with theory of history...

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

One week to go! The full program is now available for our exploratory workshop, "Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History: Rethinking the Ontology of History, organized", organized by @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social as part of the @volkswagenstiftung.de-funded MOTH Project. 📄 Full program below

Poster for the exploratory workshop "Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History: An Exploratory Workshop on Rethinking the Ontology of History," taking place 9–10 July at Bielefeld University. The poster features a mint-green background with bold black typography and a large abstract dark-brown illustration of a tilted stone or archaeological object. Organizer: Lisa Regazzoni, Professor of Theory of History. Supported by Bielefeld University, VolkswagenStiftung, and the MOTH project.

First page of the program for the exploratory workshop "Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History: An Exploratory Workshop on Rethinking the Ontology of History," organized by Lisa Regazzoni at Bielefeld University on 9–10 July. The schedule for Thursday, 9 July begins with welcome coffee, followed by talks by Lisa Regazzoni, Friedrich Steinle, Klaus Mecke, Sina Steglich, Laura Candiotto, and Meinard Kuhlmann, with comments by invited discussants.

Second page of the program for the exploratory workshop "Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History," showing the schedule for Friday, 10 July at Bielefeld University. The day includes presentations by Arianna Borrelli, Shahzad Bashir, Emanuel Bertrand, Julien Tempone-Wiltshire, Stefan Haas, Christopher A. Fuchs, Lisa Regazzoni, and Boaz Paz, with coffee breaks, lunch, and concluding remarks.

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

#REMINDER Tomorrow, #LuisaPasserini will hold a colloquium as part of the #TheoryColloquiumAsAGuestOf series and the workshop “(Inter)Subjectivity in History”. Her lecture is titled “Revisiting the Primacy of Intersubjectivity in History and Historiography.” X-E0-002 | 16-18 h #theoryofhistory

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

On 9–10 July, @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social and MOTH, our @volkswagenstiftung.de funded project, will host a workshop at Bielefeld University on how physics, quantum mechanics, and new materialism can inspire new approaches to historical knowledge. Join us! Registration: karen.gamm@uni-bielefeld.de

Poster for an academic workshop titled “Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History: An Exploratory Workshop on Rethinking the Ontology of History.” The poster has a turquoise background with large black text and a dark abstract illustration resembling a rock, mineral, or material object occupying the right half of the design.

The workshop takes place on 9–10 July at Bielefeld University, Building X, and is led by Prof. Dr. Lisa Regazzoni. Sessions are scheduled for 9 July, 14:00–18:00 (Room B2-103) and 10 July, 09:00–18:00 (Room A2-103). Registration and inquiries can be directed to karen.gamm@uni-bielefeld.de.

At the bottom are the logos of Bielefeld University, VolkswagenStiftung, and MOTH.

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

We are pleased to announce that #LuisaPasserini will give a colloquium in one week as part of the series #TheoryColloquiumAsAGuestOf and the workshop "(Inter)Subjectivity in History". Her lecture is titled “Revisiting the Primacy of Intersubjectivity in History and Historiography.”

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

On 2–3 July 2026, a workshop at #BielefeldUniv, organized by the @zthf.bsky.social with #TeresaMalice and #ChiaraJohannesmeier ,will address “(Inter)Subjectivity in History. Theory, Methods, Analysis". #theoryofhistory #intersubjectivity

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

📣 Reminder: Information Session Tomorrow! Join us to learn more about Bielefeld University's new Master's programme, Bilder, Medien, Materialität: Historische Perspektiven, and meet the teaching team. 📅 11 June 2026 🕓 16:00–18:00 📍 Room X-E0-205 #Materiality #History #MediaStudies

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

#Reminder Tomorrow is finally the day! #SandraMaß will come to #BielefeldUniv as part of the format #TheoryColloquiumAsAGuestOf and will speak about her book "Zukünftige Vergangenheiten" during a colloquium. #theoryofhistory #futurepasts 09.06.2026 | 6.-8. pm | X-B2-103 / Zoom

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

We’re pleased to share that Universität Bielefeld is launching the new MA program: Bilder, Medien, Materialität: Historische Perspektiven. MOTH researchers Lisa Regazzoni and Noa Ranzer contribute to its research-oriented curriculum. Learn more at the info session: 11 June 16:00-18:00 X-E0-205

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Next week, #SandraMaß will visit us as part of the format #TheoryColloquiumAsAGuestOf . During the #colloquium, she will speak about her book #ZukünftigeVergangenheiten, which offers a closer examination of the internationally debated topic of the Anthropocene. Join us at Bielefeld Univ or online!

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

An engaging first day at the “The Matter of Time” workshop at Bielefeld University with colleagues from the @zthf.bsky.social and Wesleyan University. In which we presented our @volkswagenstiftung.de funded project and engaged with discussions on #materiality, #physics, and #historicalresearch.

Boaz Paz presenting at the workshop “Matter of Time,” where we shared insights into the research work and lab analysis we have been carrying out in our project, with the aim of developing new questions regarding materiality and historical research.

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

#Reminder Tomorrow evening it’s happening: @marnieh-w.bsky.social delivers this year’s #KoselleckLecture at Bielefeld Univ, rounding off our #TheMatterOfTime workshop. Her talk, “Artificial Historians Colluding”, tackles one of the most urgent questions in today’s historical scholarship.

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

#Reminder Next week, our joint workshop "The Matter of Time" with the team behind @histandtheojrnl.bsky.social in coop with @volkswagenstiftung.de begins, in which materiality and time as historical dimensions will be discussed in depth. X-A2-103 | 9-18 h #timeasargument #theoryofhistory #moth

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Zentrum für Theorien in der historischen Forschung @zthf.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Next week, we will welcome@marnieh-w.bsky.social at the #ZThF as part of a #Koselleck-Lecture. Her lecture is titled “Artificial Historians Colluding". 27.05.2026 | 18-20 Uhr | X-E0-001 or Zoom Join us at #BielefeldUniv (Room X E0-001) or online! #artificialhistorians #theoryofhistory

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

As the workshop “The Matter of Time” approaches, we are pleased to present the panel “Towards a Material-Oriented Theory of History.” Bringing together Lisa Regazzoni, Boaz Paz and Noa Ranzer, the session explores new approaches to materiality in historical research. 📍 26 May, 09:15 | X-A2-103

Poster of the workshop “The Matter of Time: Materiality and Time in Historical Research” held at Bielefeld University on the 26-27 May.

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

Lisa Regazzoni engages with questions at the intersection of quantum mechanics, matter, and the theory of history at the #INTH conference in Tallinn, presenting core questions from our @volkswagenstiftung.de–funded research project. Looking forward to her presentation.

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

What if historical objects are not simply “there” to be described, but emerge relationally through the practices by which we engage them? This week, we explored TOOC Object No. 016, reflecting on war, memory, and family histories through #materiality and epistemic practices. @volkswagenstiftung.de

The MOTH team gathered at the Theory Oriented Object Laboratory (TOOL) at Universität Bielefeld, inquiring together TOOC Object No. 016—reflecting on war, memory, and family histories through materiality, cataloguing, and epistemic practices.

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

What is at stake when we think historical research through materiality? Join “The Matter of Time” (26–27 May, Universität Bielefeld), a workshop by MOTH, @zthf.bsky.social, and @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social. Registration now open. #materiality #temporality #theoryofhistory

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Geschichtstheorie am Werk @hist-theory.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

📣 Welche Geschichten können materielle Familienerinnerungen erzählen? Eine spannende Suche nach Antworten und nach neuen Fragen von Julian Gräml in „Der Nutzen des Kreuzes“, entstanden im Rahmen einer Lehrveranstaltung von @sinasteglich.bsky.social (@lmu.de). Enjoy it! 👇 gtw.hypotheses.org/35655

gtw.hypotheses.org

Der Nutzen des Kreuzes. Memorialobjekte aus Massenproduktion als Frage- und Antwortgeber

Julian Gräml - Inmitten von Geburtsurkunden und spießigen Urlaubsfotos findet sich ein Kriegsverdienstkreuz aus der NS-Zeit. Was zunächst Nachforschungen über den eigenen Urgroßvater auslöst, wirft sc...

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Lisa Regazzoni @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

💡 Here, the Study Group "Think Tank Theory" is diving into M. Hughes-Warrington's (@marnieh-w.bsky.social) wonderful article, “Ethics for Artificial Historians” (H&T 2025), in anticipation of her upcoming #KoselleckLecture, “Artificial Historians Colluding”, on 27 May at the ZThF @zthf.bsky.social

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Geschichtstheorie am Werk @hist-theory.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

📣 A proposition for (historico-)theoretical thinkers by Maja-Lisa Müller on our blog—an absolutely worth-reading text on containers... of space and time 👇 gtw.hypotheses.org/35392

gtw.hypotheses.org

Containers: A Proposition for a Preposition

Maja-Lisa Müller - “Let us not reify containers”. Archaeologist John Robb begins his short article Contained within history with this statement. His approach may seem a little curious, given the key r...

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

To mark the start of the semester, the MOTH team gathered to reflect on materiality through hands-on work with a ceramic object. Guided by Noa Ranzer, we explored how different practices shape the way we see, inquire, and understand traces of the past and their transformations. #TheoryOfHistory

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Spring marked the start of MOTH at Bielefeld University (funded by @volkswagenstiftung.de). Led by @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social, we explored material analysis as a way to rethink the study of the past and connect the natural sciences with the humanities. A first step in a four-year journey.

Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) team retreat at Bielefeld University, funded by the Volkswagen Stiftung.

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Towards a Material Oriented Theory of History (MOTH) @mothbielefeld.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

A new research project at Bielefeld University, funded by the @volkswagenstiftung.de, has officially launched. Led by Professor @lisaregazzoni.bsky.social, the project develops a Material-Oriented Theory of History (MOTH), exploring how matter and materiality can reshape approaches to the past.

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