Reflections

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Haus der Berliner Festspiele | Foyer

Stadtwelt_Weltstadt: Kairo. Omar Akbar (Germany), Alaa al-Aswani (Egypt)
Cairo, the biggest city of the Arab world, has been considered for centuries to be a cosmopolitan, open-minded city. Its tolerant climate first changed around the end of the seventies. The moral concepts of the Islamists have come to dominate vast amounts of the public space. The author of the “Yakoubian Building” will be talking with the director of Bauhaus, Omar Akbar, about the past and future of this Egyptian megacity.
In cooperation with the Bauhaus Foundation, Dessau

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Heinrich Böll Stiftung | Beletage

More than art: Writers and their public responsibility
Presented by: Barbara Wahlster
Are writers obligated to intervene in society, to criticise or at least comment on it? Should the artistic process serve as a place of retreat, and is the written word intrinsically effective? Do the African literati have privileged methods of exerting social influence? How can they comment on society’s problem areas, values and conflicts against the mainstream? Have such ways of exerting influence long since been globalised?
Nuruddin Farah (Somalia/South Africa), Helon Habila (Nigeria/USA), Susan Kiguli (Uganda) and Boualem Sansal (Algeria) will be discussing the possibilities and limits of public involvement.
In cooperation with the Heinrich Böll Foundation
Free entrance

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Institut français

What European image culture? Philippe Descola and Hans Belting in conversation
Presented by: Jean d'Haussonville
This autumn, the Institut Français is celebrating the French presidency of the E.U. with Franco-German dialogues. Since 2001 Philippe Descola has occupied the chair of nature anthropology at the Collège de France; the work of Hans Belting, a major contemporary art historian, often morphs into an anthropology of images.
Part of the Franco-German Dialogues

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Max Liebermann Haus

Young International Writing: Laila Lalami (Morocco/USA), Rattawut Lapcharoensap (Thailand/USA), Henrietta Rose-Innes (South Africa), Owen Sheers (UK)
Presented by: Marie Neumüllers
What affects the young authors of today? What do they write about and for whom, and under what conditions? And what difference does nationality make? Is it easier for a young, male British author than for an up-and-coming female author from South Africa? What inspires younger writers to live and work abroad? Four young, international authors contribute their views.
In cooperation with the Foundation Brandenburger Tor
Free entrance