Reading List # 98
An entirely subjective list of things happening in Berlin
October 8
Dorothee Elminger: Die Holländerinnen
In her new novel Die Holländerinnen, Dorothee Elmiger tells a disturbing story of fear, loss, and the failure of narratives. Anyone who enters this text falls into the abyss of our world and gazes with wide eyes into a darkness reminiscent of Joseph Conrad.
The protagonist travels to the edge of civilization for a theater job. Together with her colleagues, she ventures deep into the jungle to devote herself to the new project. Anyone who thought that storytelling had run its course should venture into this experimental, risky, daring text by Dorothee Elmiger, who is not only an outstanding storyteller but also excels as a historian, theorist, and analyst. On this evening together, we will embark on detours and diversions and gladly accept the invitation to set out on a journey of storytelling.
Moderated by Felix Palent.
(DE)
7 pm | Buchhandlung Knesebeck Elf, Knesebeckstraße 11
October 8
Frank Witzel: Komplexe Strukturen
Book launch moderated by Philipp Theisohn.
Extensive threads of connection are sometimes hidden behind seemingly insignificant anecdotes that lead to historical, philosophical, and psychoanalytical depths. Frank Witzel’s new book deals with such “complex structures.” It examines structures that range from harmlessness to humiliation, from parables to school breaks, from pupation to willpower. The result is an encyclopedia of chance that reveals a vibrant system subject to constant change. In eighty profoundly artful texts, Frank Witzel shakes the foundations of a world that seems to know itself insufficiently.
(DE)
8 pm | Literaturforum im Brecht-Haus, Chausseestraße 125
October 13
Luna Ali: “Da waren Tage” at Planetarium Berlin
A literary performance about language, black holes, and revolutions at the Zeiss-Großplanetarium
Are black holes the promise of a new beginning? This question is explored in this interdisciplinary 60-minute fulldome production, based on the novel “Da waren Tage” by Luna Ali.
The performance tells the story of Aras, a law student living in Germany who follows the Syrian revolution from afar. Year after year, political events in Syria become a larger part of his reality—whether in the lecture hall, at government offices, or on talk shows.
Between literature, music, media art, and science, an immersive space-time collage emerges in which black holes become visible not only as an astrophysical phenomenon, but also as a poetic metaphor for change, loss, and hope.
The performance is staged by Fabian Saul, Damon Taleghani, Lucas Gutierrez, and Luna Ali.
(DE)
8 pm | Zeiss-Großplanetarium, Prenzlauer Allee 80
October 13
Schönheitssalon
Alice Hasters and Daniel Hornuff at the second installment of Rabea Weihser’s panel series Schönheitssalon at Urania.
Why is an aesthetic ideal that depicts men like Stone Age beauties becoming entrenched on social media? Six-packs and strong jawlines here, full lips and small noses there—just when gender roles have become somewhat more flexible? Are Instagram faces, the looksmaxxing trend, and the hype surrounding trad wives and alpha males an expression of the vibe shift?
Rabea Weihser discusses these questions with author Alice Hasters and cultural scientist Daniel Hornuff. Both deal with the aesthetic and political meanings of gender roles in their journalistic work. This second beauty salon will be an entertaining and enlightening evening about archaic ideals, biological conservatism, and the faces of the future.
(DE)
7.30 pm | Urania, An der Urania 17