Testimonials:
What the 2017 participants said about the Notre Dame Berlin Seminar:
„Ihre Gegenwart und Ihre freundlich neugierige, zugewandte Gruppe hat uns Herz und Mund geöffnet."
- Thomas Sparr, Editor at large, Suhrkamp Verlag
"A superbly well-organized and thought-provoking adventure."
- Steve Dowden, Brandeis University
"Thanks to our conversations with authors, critics, literary agents, publishers, and radio stations, I now have a more nuanced understanding of the diverse relationships between the major players at the heart of the German literary scene. My teaching will benefit tremendously from these insights, in that I will be able to share with students a more informed picture of what makes the German literary scene so unique, like state-funding, regulated market prices, and the societal standing of literary institutions. The NDBS programming is truly unparalleled in that it connects North American scholars with world-renowned local experts in Germany to provide them with cultural knowledge that just could not be acquired in the U.S. or elsewhere."
- Steffen Kaupp, University of Notre Dame
"Framed by the colloquial interactions with various leading personages of the German literary scene and our daily visits to the multiple cultural loci in the dynamic city of Berlin, this program gives a multifaceted and most inspiring introduction to the contemporary German Literaturbetrieb."
- Wenyan Gu, Fudan University
"Fascinating topic, great venues, excellent organization: This seminar made me realize the importance of knowing how literary institutions (the Literaturbetrieb) shape the production, distribution, and evaluation of contemporary German literature. Anybody who studies contemporary literature needs to have this kind of knowledge."
- Thomas Kniesche, Brown University
"The innovative and rigorously designed NDB seminar, now in its second year, is clearly on its way to become a national benchmark of German literary studies in the US. With great success, a well-connected and energetic team of notable US and Berlin scholars has brought together leading German experts in the far-ranging interdisciplinary field of German literary cultural life, including contemporary literature, theatre, radio, and publishing houses as well as news rooms and literary agencies. Vibrant round-table conversations, lectures, and regular informal gatherings have stimulated new questions and interdisciplinary inquiry for scholars in our 2017 group -- no matter at what stage of their careers. The intellectually rich and nuanced NDBS exploration of the structures and markets that create, support, and enhance German contemporary literature will generate German Studies scholarship for years to come."
- Ulrike Wiethaus, Wake Forest University
- Thomas Sparr, Editor at large, Suhrkamp Verlag
"A superbly well-organized and thought-provoking adventure."
- Steve Dowden, Brandeis University
"Thanks to our conversations with authors, critics, literary agents, publishers, and radio stations, I now have a more nuanced understanding of the diverse relationships between the major players at the heart of the German literary scene. My teaching will benefit tremendously from these insights, in that I will be able to share with students a more informed picture of what makes the German literary scene so unique, like state-funding, regulated market prices, and the societal standing of literary institutions. The NDBS programming is truly unparalleled in that it connects North American scholars with world-renowned local experts in Germany to provide them with cultural knowledge that just could not be acquired in the U.S. or elsewhere."
- Steffen Kaupp, University of Notre Dame
"Framed by the colloquial interactions with various leading personages of the German literary scene and our daily visits to the multiple cultural loci in the dynamic city of Berlin, this program gives a multifaceted and most inspiring introduction to the contemporary German Literaturbetrieb."
- Wenyan Gu, Fudan University
"Fascinating topic, great venues, excellent organization: This seminar made me realize the importance of knowing how literary institutions (the Literaturbetrieb) shape the production, distribution, and evaluation of contemporary German literature. Anybody who studies contemporary literature needs to have this kind of knowledge."
- Thomas Kniesche, Brown University
"The innovative and rigorously designed NDB seminar, now in its second year, is clearly on its way to become a national benchmark of German literary studies in the US. With great success, a well-connected and energetic team of notable US and Berlin scholars has brought together leading German experts in the far-ranging interdisciplinary field of German literary cultural life, including contemporary literature, theatre, radio, and publishing houses as well as news rooms and literary agencies. Vibrant round-table conversations, lectures, and regular informal gatherings have stimulated new questions and interdisciplinary inquiry for scholars in our 2017 group -- no matter at what stage of their careers. The intellectually rich and nuanced NDBS exploration of the structures and markets that create, support, and enhance German contemporary literature will generate German Studies scholarship for years to come."
- Ulrike Wiethaus, Wake Forest University
Ulrich Woelk
Ulrich Woelk, author of "Was Liebe ist", discusses his novel with PhD candidate Sarah Larson.
Ulrich Woelk, author of "Was Liebe ist", discusses his novel with PhD candidate Sarah Larson.
Karin Graf
Judith Schalansky
Hammett Krimibuchhandlung
Christian Koch, owner of the Hammett Krimibuchhandlung, guides participants through his bookstore, which specializes in crime fiction novels.
Christian Koch, owner of the Hammett Krimibuchhandlung, guides participants through his bookstore, which specializes in crime fiction novels.
Hammett Krimibuchhandlung
Christian Koch discusses the particulars of owning a specialty bookstore.
Christian Koch discusses the particulars of owning a specialty bookstore.
Maxim Gorki Theater
A tour of the Maxim Gorki Theatre, led by dramaturg Ludwig Haugk. Portraits of the Gorki Ensemble on the wall.
A tour of the Maxim Gorki Theatre, led by dramaturg Ludwig Haugk. Portraits of the Gorki Ensemble on the wall.
Maike Albath,
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Deutschlandfunk Kultur
Literature Institute, Leipzig
Author Marcel Beyer discusses his two recent publications, "Das blindgeweinte Jahrhundert" and "Graphit".
Author Marcel Beyer discusses his two recent publications, "Das blindgeweinte Jahrhundert" and "Graphit".
Suhrkamp Verlag
Participants speak with Petra Hardt and Thomas Sparr of Suhrkamp Verlag.
Participants speak with Petra Hardt and Thomas Sparr of Suhrkamp Verlag.
Suhrkamp Verlag
"Blaues Sofa"
Christiane Munsberg describes the objectives of the "Blaues Sofa", a journalistic platform for authors, literature, and culture.
Her powerpoint presentation can be found here.
Christiane Munsberg describes the objectives of the "Blaues Sofa", a journalistic platform for authors, literature, and culture.
Her powerpoint presentation can be found here.