The lecture will examine the issues that both distinguish European countries from one another and, for that very reason, encourage debate and subsequent amalgamation, which is what Europe is all about. Culturally, these issues include different languages and translation, social memory and collective trauma, identities (without the American hyphen), sexualities, religions, freedom versus slavery (Don Quixote), refugees, madness and reason, travel, " sentimental capitalism " and its dual use of seduction (Madame B), the precarious balance between assimilation and integration. It is thanks to the common background of the European " semiosphere " (Lotman) that discussions around these issues are possible.
Despite a certain coherence in the lecture as a whole, the variation in topics will invite the audience to come along according to their interest, availability and wishes. After each session, I can either invite specialists in these fields, or screen some of the films I've made on these themes. An abstract short film on the loneliness of refugees will be created during the year and shown (in a loop) during the final colloquium.