Manner and mannerism are closely related, not only by their etymology. The terms allude to the pragmatics and performativity of the aesthetic. A mannerist work of art is the product of a 'mannered' act by which an artist intervenes in social and cultural constellations. The mannerist demonstrates not merely aesthetic artistry but also acts in a 'mannered' way. Thus mannerism gives us the opportunity of discussing the extent to which aesthetic concepts can be reformulated in social terms and social concepts in aesthetic terms. The volume brings together the papers presented at a conference held at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre of Bielefeld University in 1998.