Figur(ation)en der Gegenwart
[Figure(ation)s of the Present]

Around 1800, the present becomes the defining dimension of time. The awareness of the shared spatiotemporal situation along with its changing conditions awakens the need to specify the fleetingness of the moment, the formation of the social, and the boundaries of the current situation. Thus, ever since its conception, the representation of the present relies on compensatory means of concretion; it requires figure(ation)s to manifest itself. This volume, which dates from a conference organized by the DFG Research Training Group Gegenwart/Literatur. Geschichte, Theorie und Praxeologie eines Verhältnisses, discusses what may function as a figure(ation) of the present and which form of reference the relationship between figure(ation) and present is based on. From literature to dance and even professional wrestling, the contributions explore this complex relationship of references, proposing a more precise definition of this relationship in four categories: using a systematic approach consisting of representation, diagnostics, structuring, and revision, a first set of outlines of a prolific yet unobserved field of research are uncovered.