introduction
At times of rising insecurities, relentless competition and a host of challenges, in particular with the rise of new technologies and artificial intelligence, can we rethink our roles in society and in our various relationships? We might not always be able to shape the future but we can certainly rethink our personal responsibilities, our roles and our engagement towards a better society with an aim to live life to the full, and flourish, individually and collectively.
In a state of sonder, each of us is at once a hero, a supporting cast member, and an extra in overlapping stories.
Sonder is the feeling one has on realizing that every other individual one sees has a life as full and real as one’s own, in which they are the central character and others, including oneself, have secondary or insignificant roles.
As actors of change, we invite you, the students of the University of Innsbruck, to summon your powers of creativity and submit flash fiction exploring human relationships, and the role of individuals or groups in shaping our realities.
Drawing from your personal preoccupations, your discipline or your field of studies, you are invited to create fresh narratives that can excite the readers’ imagination, encourage a new frame of mind and inspire a positive future outlook.
Rearrange the pieces of the puzzle and create your own narratives that explore the feeling of sonder!
Look at the different elements that have an effect on each other and can influence our personal development, our relationships and our society as a whole. Take a look at the interplay and the dynamics involved. Have you ever experienced the feeling of sonder?