Prof. Dr. Susanne Bennewitz

Professorship for social and cultural studies in the context of material culture

Design and development, in the small object or on the large case, on the body or for the touch screen, are based on presuppositions. For example, we look for a natural, a useful, a functional or a pleasant solution. Cultural and social sciences examine the matter of course in these presuppositions. What is natural about a body and what is sociocultural practice? Which limits are given and which ones first had to be cast in words or cement? Which institutions and which smells shape what a customer finds romantic?


I personally work in teaching and research mostly with the methods of historical anthropology and social history.

Curriculum Vitae

Academic Degrees
  • Dr. phil. in Jewish studies. University of Basel (2005)
  • M.A. in modern German literature, informatics and Jewish studies, Free University Berlin (1995)
Academic Career
  • Doctorate with Prof. Dr. Jacques Picard, Jewish studies, and Prof. Dr. Heiko Haumann, department of history, University of Basel (2002-2005)
  • Mitglied der Forschergruppe «Jüdisches Leben in Basel 1798-1952. Migration, Religionsgemeinde, urbane Gemeinschaft», Schweizerischer Nationalfonds (2002-2004)
  • Member of the research group «Jüdisches Leben in Basel 1798-1952. Migration, Religionsgemeinde, urbane Gemeinschaft» (Loose translation:"Jewish Life in Basel 1798-1952: Migration, Religious Community, Urban Community"), Swiss National Science Foundation (2002-2004)
  • Magister thesis: Zur Funktion der Topographie für das Geschichtsbewusstsein in Uwe Johnsons Roman Jahrestage (Loose translation: "On the function of topography for historical consciousness in Uwe Johnson's novel Anniversaries") (supervisor Prof. Dr. Bennholdt-Thomsen)
  • Studies at the Free University of Berlin (1990-1995); Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg i. Br. (1988-1990); Longy School of Music, Boston (1987)
  • Continuing education: Federal Academy for Cultural Education, Wolfenbüttel; McGill University, Montréal; Association of Swiss Museums
Occupational Activities
  •     Professor of social and cultural studies, department of design, Trier University of Applied Sciences, since winter semester 2018.
  •     Scientific assistant at the Heidelberg University of Jewish Studies, chair for the history of the Jewish people, 2014-2018
  •     Historian and publicist (commissioned work, research and archive), since 2006
  •     Scientific assistant at the Institute for Jewish Studies, University of Basel, 2002-2005
  •     Assistant curator at the Jewish Museum of Switzerland, Basel, 1999-2001
  •     Computer scientist at the Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine Basel, 1997-1998
  •     Proofreading, editing and translation, since 1997
  •     Consultant in museums and exhibitions, since 1992
Ongoing Research Projects
  • The white marriage to Switzerland. On the criminalisation of civil marriage (1922-1952). (Marriage law, citizenship, administrative practice, civil status authority, migration regime, gender studies, exile studies)
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