Hidden somewhere in this newsletter: a small reward for readers. Join us on Saturday, 16 May, 13.30–18.00 CEST at Tolhuistuin (Amsterdam) and online, to discuss the implications of the so-called "new oral age".
If you've been lurking, , or just waiting for the right moment to lock in your ticket – this is that moment. We're three days out from Symposihmm: The New Orality (Sat 16 May, 13:30–18:00, Tolhuistuin + our online event space The Inbetween), and the programme is stacked.
We're not here to tell you the internet is rotting your brain. We're here to unpack how it's changing, alongside experts, thinkers, and makers. And, not to guilt-trip you, but this kind of programming doesn't happen every week. And if you've been with us before, you know we don't do filler.
See you Saturday?
From The Hmm: Your friend code 🎁
We want to make sure our symposihmm remains accessible to our community, especially you as our newsletter subscriber. For this reason, we are offering you a discount code that slices a substantial amount from the original ticket price. Here it is! fr3n6s26@wwilaa!_# Use at check out.
📋 Programme
13.30–14.45
- Welcome and introduction
- Talk by Elise Swart on literacy and online platforms
- Talk by Kevin Munger on the new orality
15.00–16.15
- Workshop “Make Your Own Slobject” by Maria Mombers
- “Video Exchange Trading Spawner Dopamine Hitting Point” by Max
- “Doom Scroll Rehab: Cache Cleanse” by Gjorgji Despodov
16.30–18.00
- Talk by Reginold Royston on podcasting, new orality and the African mediascape
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A panel discussion on how various disciplines (try to) get a grip on the new orality, featuring:
- Filmmakers Aylin Kuryel & Fırat Yücel
- Researchers Daniël de Zeeuw and Sal Hagen
- Author Maxime Garcia Diaz
✦ Performance by Jonas Lund throughout the day
Activities 🛠️
Between the talks is where it gets hands-on. 🥎 Max opens a communal portal into the YouTube depths – bring your latest rabbit hole. 🥎 Gjorgji Despodov asks you to leave your phone at the door, enter a "delulu" chamber, and ground yourself through tactile, analogue rituals. 🥎 In the workshop Make Your Own Slobject, Maria Mombers guides you through what happens behind your screens and which power structures are actually shaping your scrolling. 🥎 And throughout the day, artist Jonas Lund waits for you on a wall-mounted phone: a one-on-one FaceTime performance that's part interactive art, part satirical wellness check-in.
⚠️ Please note: The activities above are on-site only, offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-up is on arrival. All talks and panels will be livestreamed via The Inbetween.
Stuff you should know
📅 Date: Saturday 16 May 2026
🕗 Times: 13.30–18.00 CEST
📍 Location: Tolhuistuin, IJpromenade 2, Amsterdam & online via our online event space The Inbetween
🎟 Tickets: €27.50 on-site / €20 student / €7.50 livestream
You can find information about physical accessibility at Tolhuistuin here.
This programme is kindly supported by the Creative Industries Fund NL and hosted by Tolhuistuin.
Thanks for reading. Hope to see you soon!
