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Events

FALL 2008

Tue Sept 16		Lectureship Series: Elisabeth Weber, "Torture was the essence of National Socialism." Reading Jean Améry today. The lecture proposes a close reading of Jean Améry's text of 1966 about the torture he underwent at the hands of the Nazi secret state police. Améry's essay provides, in J.M. Sebald's formulation, "content-heaviest insights into the irreparable state of the victims, out of which alone the true nature of terror can be extrapolated with some precision." Améry's essay is a lucid analysis of the nature of the transgression that forms torture's core. Free, refreshments, 4:00pm, location tbd.
Thu Oct 23		Lectureship Series: Lutz Koepnick, " Benjamin in the Age of New Media." In this presentation, I warn 's against an uncritical use of Benjamins theory of aura and technological reproduction for the sake of theorizing new media today. I nevertheless uphold the viability of Benjamin's writings as a compelling model of how to think about the relationship between technological change, the awsthetic, and how media engage the user's body. For a case study, I compare Benjamin's theories with today's computer-driven animation techniques such as rotoscoping and their impact on the mediation of corporeality on and beyond the screen. Free, refreshments, 4:00pm., location tbd.
Thu Oct 30		Lectureship Series: Stefan Andriopoulos. " Phantasmagoria: Specters of Kant". In 1766 Immanuel Kant published a philosophical treatise entitled "Dreams of a Spirit Seer, Elucidated by Dreams of Metaphysics." Drawing on this text and a lively eighteenth-century debate about the possibility of spirit apparitions, Stefan Andriopoulos's talk will explore interrelations of German idealism, the Gothic novel, and the magic lantern's phantasmagoria. Free, refreshments, 4:00pm, location tbd.
Tu Nov 11		Lectureship Series: Peter Fenves, "Kant and the Idea of 'Other Human Beings of a Different Species (Race)". Free, refreshments, 4:00pm., location tbd.

SPRING 2008

Fri Jan 25		Clemens Risi Welcome Reception: The Departments of German Studies and Music welcome our Max Kade Visiting Professor, refreshments, 4:30-6:00pm., Library, 190 Hope Street
Fri Feb 1		Bettina Brandl-Risi talk: "this is my theory-friendly everyday life. It is intense and it is gradually becoming capable of theory! ... and not that art shit or shit like that!" René Pollesch and the Politics of Virtuosity on German Stages, 4:00-5:30pm, Theater, Speech and Dance, Lyman Hall, Room 007.
Thu Feb 7		FILM SCREENING: Die Stadt als Beute / Berlin Stories Based on staged rehearsals of the play „Stadt als Beute / Berlin Stories“ by renowned, controversial playwright and director René Pollesch, who plays the stage director in the film. Salomon 203, 7-9:30 pm Admission Free. German with English subtitles.
Sat Feb 21-24		Senior Showcase: Hamletmachine, by Heiner Müller In a new translation by Katrin Dettmer and J.E. Macián, Directed by José Enrique Macián, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 2 PM, Leeds Theatre
Sat Feb 23		Conference: Fascism, Nazism and Sexuality, Depts of German Studies and Italian sponsor workshop to analyze and compare Italian fascists and Nazi attitudes towards sexuality. Speakers include Bruno Vanrooij (Georgetown University), Ruth Ben-Ghiat (NYU), and Dagmar Herzog (CUNY), 9:00am - 4:00pm, Vartan Gregorian Quad Lounge, 101Thayer Street, Saunders Inn
Thu Feb 28		FILM SCREENING: Sommer vorm Balkon A tragicomedy that explores the humdrum lives of Katrin (Inka Friedrich) and Nike (Nadja Uhl), best friends who live in the same Berlin apartment building. The Village Voice called it "an oddly buoyant little film about loneliness: part Sex in der City, part Dogme doldrums.” Salomon 203, 7-9:30 pm Admission Free. German with English subtitles.
Thu Mar 13		FILM SCREENING: Schultze Gets the Blues An "anti-Heimat" film that follows the adventures of Schultze, a retired German miner who embarks on a musical pilgrimage to Louisiana after hearing zydeco on his radio. Comedy/Drama, German w/English subtitles
Thu-Fri Mar 13- 14		Conference: Cogut Center presents "WAGNER and SCANDAL - A Rigorous Conversation with Music and Drama", Grant Recital Hall, Brown University. Check HERE for details.
Tues Mar 18		Colloquium: "Opera in Performance - In Search of New Analytical Approaches" Prof. Dr. Clemens Risi, Max Kade Visiting Professor of German Studies and Music colloquium (in English), 4:00pm, Smith-Buonnano 106, Reception to follow . Drawing on recent controversial opera productions and viewing opera in terms of performance, Professor Risi's colloquium will focus on the experience of the singing performer's vocal and physical presence and the relationship between the rhythmical or temporal qualities of aural and visual elements in these performances.
Thu Mar 20		Guest speaker, Robert Sollich, dramaturg, to visit Clemens Risi's GRMN1660X: Richard Wagner's Theater course.
Thu Apr 3		FILM SCREENING: Das Wunder von Bern The movie deals with the championship-winning German soccer team of 1954. Its story is linked with two others: The family of a young boy is split due to the events in World War II, and the father returns from Russia after eleven years. His problems in getting back to normal life are shown, with references to his children and wife. The second story is about a reporter and his wife reporting from the tournament. Salomon 203, 7-9:30 pm. German w/ English subtitles. Admission Free.
Thu Apr 3		Concert: "Spiritual Resistance: Music from Theresienstadt" by baritone Wolfgang Holzmair, Russell Ryan on Piano, 7:30pm, First Unitarian Church, Benefit and Benevolent Streets, Prov., RI. Free and open to the public. Reception to follow. Presented by the Cogut Center for the Humanities.
Fri Apr 4		Lecture: Soccer and German Patriotism: From the 1954 Miracle to a "Summer's Tale" by Jochen Vogt, (2006), Library, 190 Hope St, 3:00pm
Tue Apr 15		Colloquium: Thomas Bäumler, "Shaping Crisis, Shaping Religion: Thinking Social Form in Schleiermacher's 'Speeches'", Dept of German Studies Library 190 Hope St., 4:00pm.
Thu Apr 17		FILM SCREENING: Young Törless At an Austrian boys' boarding school in the early 1900s, shy, intelligent Törless observes the sadistic behavior of his fellow students, doing nothing to help a victimized classmate--until the torture goes too far. Adapted from Robert Musil's acclaimed novel, Young Törless launched the New German Cinema movement and garnered the 1966 Cannes Film Festival International Critics' Prize for first-time director Volker Schloendorff. (B/W, 1966). Salomon 203, 7-9 pm. Admission Free German w/English subtitles NB: The previously announced screening of Brecht's "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny" has been cancelled.
Fri Apr 18		GERMAN CLUB: Fußballtag! April 18th, 3PM, Lawn @ 190 Hope St. A casual soccer match with students and faculty followed by a screening (with refreshments) of the final game of World Cup '74. Experience not required!! Free.
Tue Apr 29		GERMAN CLUB Kabarettabend. April 29th, 7PM at Peterutti Lounge. This is the very popular 3rd annual German Department Talent Show. Since we flooded the library last year, we are moving it to Faunce House! Please contact Maria_Elisabeth_Schreiber@brown.edu before Sunday, April 27th if you would like to perform a German related skit, poem, song, or anything else. Free. All welcome.
Thu May 1		GRILLFEST May 1st, 3pm, Lawn @ 190 Hope St. Free. Come take a break and enjoy some German food and conversation.
Mon May 5		ΔΦΑ INDUCTION CEREMONY: May 5th, 4pm, Library @ 190 Hope St.

FALL 2007

Thu Sep 20		Seminar: Avital Ronell Presents: Kleist’s Militerary Strategy: Overturning the Story Line in THE MARQUISE VON O. 5:00 – 7:00 PM , Crystal Room, Alumnae Hall

Tues Oct 2		Oktoberfest, The German Club invites you to celebrate Oktoberrest on Tuesday, October 2nd, starting at 3 pm. on the lawn near the German Studies Dept. @ 190 Hope St.
Wed Oct 3		GDR Film Series: “Ich war neunzehn” (1968), directed by Konrad Wolf, tells the story of a German who returns to his home town as part of the Red Army during the last days of WW II. 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno 201, in German with English subtitles
Thur Oct 4		Reading Digital Literature Conference, Opening reception and Exhibition: 8:00pm - 9:00pm in List Art Center Click here to view our conference website.
Fri Oct 5		Reading Digital Literature Conference, Conference Opening: 4:30pm - 5:00pm Sessions: 5:00pm - 6:30pm Performance of Digital Literature: 7:00pm - 8:00 pm All in Smith-Buonanno 106
Sat Oct 6		Reading Digital Literature Conference, Sessions: 9:30am to 6:30pm Performance of Digital Literature: 8:30pm to 10:00 pm All in Smith-Buonanno 106

Sun Oct 7		Reading Digital Literature Conference, Student Panel: 10:00am - 12:00pm All in Smith-Buonanno 106
Wed Oct 17		GDR Film Series: “Spur der Steine” (1966), directed by Frank Beyer, is a film about living and working conditions in the GDR of the 1960's and was scathed by GDR leaders. 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno 201, in German with English subtitles
Wed Oct 31		GDR Film Series: “Die Legende von Paul und Paula” (1973), directed by Heiner Carow and written by the recently deceased Ulrich Plenzdorf. 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno 201, in German with English subtitles
Thu Nov 14		GDR Film Series: “Jakob, der Lügner“ (1975), directed by Frank Beyer and based on the novel by Jurek Becker, this was the only GDR film nominated for an Oscar. 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno 201, in German with English subtitles
Wed Nov 28		GDR Film Series: "Winter adé" (1988), directed by Helke Misselwitz. A documentary following several women of all generations and social backgrounds during the last year of the GDR. 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno 201, in German with English subtitles

SPRING 2007

Thu Apr 26		"One Hans with Hot Sauce - Life in Two Worlds" A reading in German by author, Hatice Akyün. 4p.m., Dept. of German Studies, 190 Hope Street, Rm.103, Reception will follow the talk.
Wed Apr 11		"Rosenstrasse" (2003) director Margarethe von Trotta, 8 p.m. Smith-Buonanno G 01 (German with English subtitles)
Tues Apr 10		"Sentiment and the Sublime in the 18th Century" Lunchtime Seminar at the Cogut Center for the Humanities, by Zachary Sng. Paper will be pre-circulated, and pre-registration is required. For details, click here.
Thu Apr 5		"Watching Watching: Surveillant Intermediality in Fritz Lang's The 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse." Seminar by Thomas Y. Levin, Princeton University. McKinney Room, Watson Institute, 111 Thayer Street. 12-2 pm. Pre-registration required. For details, click here. Hosted by Cogut Center for the Humanities.
Wed Apr 4		"Anxious Cinema: Surveillance as Narrative Form." Lecture by Thomas Y. Levin, Princeton University. Joukowsky Forum, Watson Institute, 111 Thayer Street. 7:30 - 9:00 pm. Hosted by Cogut Center for the Humanities.
Tues Apr 3		"Suicide and Biopower: Elias Canetti's 'Auto-Da-fe'". Colloquium given by Katrin Dettmer. In English. Dept. of German Studies, 190 Hope Street, Rm. 103, 4 p.m. Reception will follow.
Tues Apr 3		"Die Tausend Augen des Dr. Mabuse" (The 1000 Eyes of Dr. Mabuse). Film Screening at List Art Center, Room 120, 6:00 - 7:30 pm (in German with English subtitles).
Wed Mar 21		"Der Krieger und die Kaiserin"(2000) director Tom Tyker, 8 p.m. Smith-Buonanno G 01 (German with English subtitles)
Mon Mar 19		"Talking Cures: The Unconscious as (Operatic) Mise-en-Scène." Colloquium given by Michelle Duncan. In English. Dept. of German Studies, 190 Hope Street, Rm. 103, 4 p.m. Reception will follow.
Wed Mar 7		"Comedian Harmonists,"(1997) director Joseph Vilmsmaier 8 p.m. Smith-Buonanno G 01 (German with English subtitles)

FALL 2006

Wed Nov 15		"Go for Zucker"/ "Alles auf Zucker" (2004) A slapstick, political incorrect comedy about a journalist of Jewish descent in Berlin who feels that he is a loser because of the political changes in Germany after 1989. When his mother dies, he has to meet his estranged brother and all his other family members. But during the preparations for the funeral, he becomes embroiled in a snooker competition to win money to pay his debts. Smith-Buonanno G01, 7 p.m. In German with English subtitles Admission Free
TH Nov. 2		"Writing in the Web of Words" An Evening with the Author Yoko Tawada, organized by East Asian Studies. Reception and meeting of the author at 6 p.m. Lecture and reading at 7 pm . Located at: 333 Brook Street.
Wed Nov 01		"Sound Scraps, Vision Scraps: Paul Celan's Poetic Practice," Marjorie Perloff Reinhard Kuhn Memorial Lecture organized by Dept. of Comparative Literature Smith-Buonanno 106, 5 p.m.
Wed Nov 01		"Crazy" (2000) Based on 16 year-old Benjamin Lebert's novel, a loosely autobiographical chronicle of adolescent life at a Bavarian boarding school. Hans-Christian Schmid's adaptation captures the matter-of-fact authenticity of the novel with a top-notch teen cast and a keen eye for the nuances of young adulthood Smith-Buonanno G01, 7 p.m. In German with English subtitles Admission Free
Oct 26 - 28		"Freud and the Humanities," A conference, film series, and concert organized by the Cogut Center for the Humanities. (See details on the Cogut Center website)
Wed Oct 18		"Legend of Rita" / "Stille nach dem Schuss" (2000) Schloendorff's depiction of a radical West German terrorist who abandons the revolution and settles in East Germany with a new identity provided by the East German secret service. Smith-Buonanno G01, 7 p.m. In German with English subtitles Admission Free
TU Oct. 17		"False Alarm: On Responsibility in Kafka's Story "A Country-Doctor.'" Colloquium given by Prof. Zachary Sng, Assistant Professor of German Studies. Dept. of German Studies, 190 Hope Street, Rm. 103, 4 P.M. Reception will follow.
Wed Oct 4		"Nowhere in Africa" / "Nirgendwo in Afrika" (2001) A Jewish family in Germany emigrate short before the Second World War. They move to Kenya to start running a farm, but not all members of the family come to terms with their new life. Smith-Buonanno G01, 7 p.m. In German with English subtitles Admission Free
Fri Sep 22		A Seminar by Werner Hamacher (U. of Frankfurt) to discuss 2 pre-circulated papers: - "The Right to Have Rights" - "The Right Not to Use Rights" Faculty Club, 12-2 p.m. Pre-register with kit@brown.edu. Lunch provided. (sponsored by Comparative Literature, Cogut Center, and German Studies)
Thu Sep 21		"Uncalled: A Commentary on Kafka's 'The Test,'" a Lecture by Werner Hamacher (U. of Frankfurt) Brian Room, Maddock Alumni Ctr 5:30 p.m., with reception to follow (sponsored by Comparative Literature, Cogut Center, and German Studies)

SPRING 2006

May 4		Colloquium (in English) given by Prof. Roberto Simanowski entitled "Aesthetics of the Spectacle. On Interaction and Reflection in Digital Literature and Art." (Department Colloquium Series) 190 Hope Street, Rm. 103, 4 p.m. to 5p.m.
Apr 5		Film "Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken," 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno, G-12. German with English subtitles.
Mar 16		"No Place in Reality: The autonomy of Reflection and the Diminution of the Subject in W.G. Sebald's "Austerlitz." Talk by Katrin Dettmer. (Departmental Colloquium Series) 190 Hope Street, Rm. 103, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mar 15		Film "Die fetten Jahre sind vorbei," 7 p.m. Smith-Buonanno, G-12. German with subtitles.
Mar 2		"Projections of America: The New World in the texts of 20th century German-Jewish authors" Talk by Thomas Kniesche (Departmental Colloquium Series) 190 Hope St., Rm. 103, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mar 1		Film "Gegen die Wand," 7 pm. Smith-Buonanno,G-12. German film with English subtitles.
Feb 28		"Deep Walls" Exhibition opening and lecture by artist Scott Snibbe CIT Lecture Room 165, 7 pm Reception at 8 pm (Exhibition runs until March 28, 2006)
Feb 3		"Unsettling Opera," a 1-day Workshop Grant Recital Hall, 1 Young Orchard Ave 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Organized by Cogut Center for the Humanities (click here for details)

All film screenings take place at 7 pm in Smith-Buonanno 201. Admission is free, and movies will be screened with English subtitles.

Banner photo: German History Museum, Berlin; copyright © Ulrich Schwarz