»Resistances«
University of Cologne, Aula I+II
To begin with, there must be passion. Passion for literature, for the resistive pleasure it affords, its challenging, enlivening prickle. Seven authors from around the world have traveled to Poetica 6. And tonight, they will introduce their writings with short readings and themselves in talks with curator Jan Wagner, giving a taste of this year’s Poetica theme. The word resistance has three basic meanings. It defines the hardness of an object; it defines a living being’s protective system against outer influences, and, lastly, it defines the ability to oppose a situation, a person or a group of people. All three definitions apply to poetry as it strives to be hardy enough to defy time. Poesy’s stubborn insistence and timelessness is seemingly immune to fleeting Zeitgeist and all modern isms, and, ultimately, can and hopes to be a perpetual counter-draft to the status quo, a contradiction; an obstinance. To be sure, resistance, the theme of this Poetica, is plural – resistances.
Axel Freimuth, rector at the University of Cologne opens the evening, welcoming authors and audience. Between guest author readings, Minima Poetica – short, thematic, poetological essays – will be read by Günter Blamberger (Center for Advanced Studies Morphomata) and Ernst Osterkamp (German Academy for Language and Literature). Following this revue of nonconformist thought, the University of Cologne invites to a reception.
With authors Tadeusz Dąbrowski, Luljeta Lleshanaku, Agi Mishol, Herta Müller, Sergio Raimondi, Xi Chuan, Serhij Zhadan and curator Jan Wagner. With the actors and musicians Philipp Plessmann, Yvon Jansen and Katharina Schmalenberg.
The event will be held both in German and in English.
Admission is free.
—