Gossip Reading and Discussion Group 
Free admission upon presentation of a valid admission ticket
Reservations via email to info@kasteelwijlre.nl.
Location: Reading Table in the exhibition Gossip: Magic and Marginalization at the Hedge House
Bring: a mug, a soup bowl, and a spoon

During the exhibition Gossip: Magic and Marginalization, three reading and discussion sessions will take place at the large reading table in the Hedge House. Afterward, there will be a communal soup meal.

The public, artists, and the curator are invited to read together and engage in conversation about themes related to the exhibition Gossip: Magic and Marginalization. Prior to this reading and discussion group, participants will receive one or two essays via email and read them in preparation for the session. Marjolein van der Loo (curator of Gossip) and Manon Berns (public program coordinator at Kasteel Wijlre) will guide and facilitate the discussion. Two sessions will be conducted entirely in Dutch, using Dutch texts. One session will be held entirely in English, featuring an English-language text and discussion.

November 19: Theme: Gossip (languages: Dutch and English)
The starting point is chapter 5 from Witches, Witch-hunting, and Women by Silvia Federici. This chapter discusses gossip and its shift from a form of female solidarity and knowledge-sharing to something negative and suspicious.

The word gossip quickly evokes negative associations and is a practice that is still often considered typically feminine.
However, the word gossip —derived from “go” (as in godparent) and “sib” (as in sibling or relative)—did not originally refer to superficial gossip. Rather, it was a form of connection and care through which (primarily) women supported one another, shared knowledge, and maintained social bonds. How did this meaning change so drastically? And how did “gossip” acquire its negative, gender-coded connotation?

We’re breathing new life into this ancient tradition by coming together to form a temporary community of gossips where knowledge, experiences, and stories are shared.

Everyone is welcome, and no prior knowledge of the topic is required.