The 9th Annual Symposium of the Art Student Graduate Organization – “The Ways We Attach Ourselves”: Affect, Agency, and Emotion in the Visual Arts

Please reserve your space at the event here.

The symposium will be held in-person at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on
Friday, September 15th at 5:30 – 7:30 PM and Saturday, September 16th from 9:00 AM-
4:00 PM. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session and are open to a general audience.

Affect theory in art highlights the power of art to evoke intense emotions and bodily sensations
influenced by social, cultural, and historical factors. It recognizes that our bodies actively
participate in the affective encounter with art, generating physical responses that contribute to the
experience. This approach explores how art can transform emotions, challenge interpretations,
and provoke new perspectives, examining the aesthetic strategies artists employ to evoke
affective responses in viewers.

Drawing inspiration from the insightful work of Lauren Berlant and Sarah Ahmed, this year’s
symposium delves into the captivating realm of affect, agency, and emotion within the visual
arts. Our objective is to embrace an affective approach that illuminates the emotional and sensory
dimensions of art, showcasing the profound transformative potential inherent in encounters with
artworks. ASGO cordially invites you to immerse yourself in art on a deeply visceral and embodied
level, transcending mere intellectual analysis and embarking on an exploration of the boundless
affective possibilities offered by artistic experiences.

Please reserve your space at the event here.