Arts Lecture 2026 with Zoë Papaikonomou
Traditionally, the Faculty of Arts opens the academic year with the Arts Lecture. This year's 39th edition will take place on Tuesday, 1 September, at 4 p.m. in the Aula of the Academy Building. The lecture will be delivered by Zoë Papaikonomou and is titled 'Language is not neutral: the power of definition and how it influences our interactions in society'.
Date: Tuesday 1 September
Time: From 4 p.m. to approx. 5 p.m. (walk-in from 3:45 p.m.)
Location: Aula Academy Building, Broerstraat 5 (if the Aula is full, there is a possibility to follow the opening via livestream in the Senate Chamber)
This year's Arts Lecture will be delivered in English and admission is free. Afterwards there will be drinks in the Spiegelzaal (Academy Building).
Language is not neutral: the power of definition and how it influences our interactions in society
We live in a media-saturated world. From the moment we wake up until the moment we go to bed, we are constantly surrounded by words and images, from advertising and news to TikTok and LinkedIn. This constant stream of imagery and language shapes how we view society and one another. That is why the careful choice of words and images is so important, whether by media editors, education professionals, organizations, or each of us as individuals. Yet, haste, a lack of knowledge, carelessness, and—all too often—the pursuit of clicks, frequently lead to sensationalist language and portrayals that fail to treat people as equals.
For twenty years, Zoë Papaikonomou has been addressing the lack of diversity and inclusion in the media and its consequences for society. In 2018, she co-authored the book ‘Heb je een boze moslim voor mij?’ (‘Got an Angry Muslim for Me?’) with Annebregt Dijkman. For several years, she has also tackled this issue by editing news headlines on LinkedIn and Instagram, thereby exposing unequal power structures in society.
In the Arts Lecture, Zoë Papaikonomou explores different forms of exclusion in language. She connects these to social power dynamics by examining various forms of power, such as the power that becomes visible in the design of spaces and institutions (the power of spaces), and the power that stems from knowledge and the question of who determines what is accepted as truth (the power of knowledge). In doing so, she demonstrates that language is not neutral, but a powerful instrument that helps shape our interactions and society as a whole.
Zoë Papaikonomou (1982) is a historian, investigative journalist, and media expert. Her work focuses on diversity, inclusion, and equity. She not only researches these topics but also critically challenges existing structures and norms. Zoë is the co-author of three books: Got an Angry Muslim for Me? (2018/2025), The Inclusion Marathon (2021), and Uncomfortable Conversations – Survival Guide (2024).
Currently, her exhibition Language is a Mirror of (In)equity, the first LinkedIn exhibition in the Netherlands, is touring the country. She is also working on her next book about the power of language.
More information
For more information, please contact the Department of Communication & Marketing, Faculty of Arts, University of Groningen. Email: info.let rug.nl