Perpetrators are fascinating — in literature, true crime podcasts, murder mysteries, and public debates. They raise questions about human nature, morality, and social and political contexts. However, they also often serve as convenient figures for society to project evil onto “the other.” Taking an empathetic approach toward perpetrators and wrongdoing seems provocative because it risks rationalizing or making understandable a crime that is morally and legally unacceptable. Nevertheless, empathy does not necessarily mean accepting or defending injustice. Rather, an empathetic viewpoint can address questions of social responsibility and collective guilt that would otherwise remain invisible.
This workshop aims to discuss interpretations and narratives of perpetrators in culture, society, and history from an interdisciplinary perspective.

The Workshop will be held in German and English.