De Beer, Stephanus Francois2015-11-252015-11-252015-09-30De Beer, S., 2015, ‘The university, the city and the clown: A theological essay on solidarity, mutuality and prophecy', HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 71(3), Art. #3100, 12 pages. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/hts.v71i3.3100.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/hts.v71i3.3100http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50615This essay is informed by five different but interrelated conversations all focusing on the relationship between the city and the university. Suggesting the clown as metaphor, I explore the particular role of the activist scholar, and in particular the liberation theologian that is based at the public university, in his or her engagement with the city. Considering the shackles of the city of capital and its twin, the neoliberal university, on the one hand, and the city of vulnerability on the other, I then propose three clown-like postures of solidarity, mutuality and prophecy to resist the shackles of culture and to imagine and embody daring alternatives.en© 2015. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.CityPublic universityUrban vulnerability(Un)shackling the city of capital(Un)shackling the neoliberal universitySolidarityMutualityProphecyTheology article SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationTheology articles SDG-11SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communitiesTheology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle