“University Zodiac” | wLiterature Circle | Discussion with authors

A sporebird, a peacock or an ant… It turns out that you can meet them not only in nature, on a spring walk, but sometimes also at the school bench, at the university or at work. On the occasion of Library Week, we invite you to a discussion around the book “University Zodiac. How communing with the academy spasmed our characters” by Monika Kwiecinska-Zdrenka and Martin T. Zdrenka.

The book is an invitation to get to know a peculiar gallery of brand new zodiac figures. Each of them was used to portray people of science in a distorted mirror. The authors of the text, together with the creator of the illustrations Nikodem Pręgowski, bid farewell to the traditional Leo, Capricorn, Pisces and Aries and invite us to a new celestial zodiac, inhabited by the Ox, Hyena, Indigo or Roo. Is “The University Zodiac” a groundbreaking astrological study that changes everything, not only in the sky, but also on earth? Not necessarily. However, it can provide a good pretext for discussing the moral state of scientific people, as well as the condition of the academy itself.

In our new series “wKool of literature” we will discuss various literary texts in the form of an open discussion. A free conversation with authors from the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region will become an excellent opportunity to share their insights, interpretations and reflections on their books.

Monika Kwiecinska-Zdrenka – sociologist, assistant professor at the Institute of Sociology of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, researcher of youth, helplessness, public sphere and civic engagement. Founder and owner of the research company “Soma”.

Marcin T. Zdrenka – philosopher and ethicist, university professor at the Institute of Philosophy of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, researcher of virtues and vices, co-initiator of the publishing series “Ethical Miniatures”, creator of the podcast “Philosophical Chatter”.

Nikodem Pręgowski – graphic designer, illustrator and poster maker. He teaches graphic design, calligraphy and typography at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Founder of the publishing house “For example.” Winner of dozens of awards at international festivals and poster reviews. His works have been shown, among others: in Belgium, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, Iran, Germany, Norway, Peru, Slovakia, Turkey, the USA.

During the event there will be an opportunity to purchase the book “University Zodiac. How communing with the academy spasmed our characters”.

The event is co-organized by “For Example” Publishing House and Kafka and Company Bookstore.