Event archive
2020
Happy Holidays! A Visit to the Brecht House in Santa Monica: Conversation & Concert
Not far from Thomas Mann House and Villa Aurora lies the former domicile of Bertolt Brecht. Here he spent four years of his exile and created important works like The Caucasian Chalk Circle or Life of Galileo. The house is now a historic landmark and has been complemented by an award-winning modern addition. Rina Welles, the current owner, has invited Claudia Gordon, director of Villa Aurora, and Nikolai Blaumer, program director of Thomas Mann House, for a visit. They engage in a conversation about Brecht's legacy and European traces in Santa Monica.
Radical Diversity: Discussion Series with Mohamed Amjahid and Max Czollek (Boston)
VATMH NACHT 2020
Celebrate 25 years Villa Aurora with us ! We cordially invite you to an exclusive, digital journey to the hills of Pacific Palisades as part of VATMH NIGHT 2020 !
On December 1st, starting at 7 pm, you can experience live concerts, film, literature and our State of the Union(s) speech. Anne-Dore Krohn (rbb Kulturradio) will lead through the evening. There will also be a wide range of additional digital content at your disposal. The event will be held in German.
VATMH NACHT 2020
Feiern Sie mit uns 25 Jahre Villa Aurora! Wir laden Sie im Rahmen der VATMH NACHT 2020 herzlich zu einer exklusiven, digitalen Reise in die Hügel von Pacific Palisades ein!
The Sound of San Remo Drive: Alex Ross and Hans Rudolf Vaget in Conversation
Richard Wagner continues to polarize scholars and audiences like no other composer. Long before he was appropriated by National Socialism, Wagner became an artistic icon for a wide range of groups—socialists, occultists, feminists, gay-rights pioneers, African-American intellectuals—who found inspiration in Lohengrin, The Ring of the Nibelung, Tristan and Isolde and Parsifal. The writer and music enthusiast Thomas Mann was also one of Wagner's great admirers.
"Moonshot Thinking in Silicon Valley" – Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht and Obi Felten in Conversation with Milena Merten | Live
October 3, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of German unification. The period between the fall of the Wall in November 1989 and the signing of the Unification Treaty on October 3, 1990 stands for German political ingenuity in reclaiming a unified nation. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that Willy Brandt’s dictum “Now what belongs together will grow together” has been only partially realized. While formal unification took barely a year, it turns out that unity takes generations.
Continuing differences in living standards, pensions, political orientations or democratic values indicate that the process of unifying former East and West Germany is a multi-generational project. In what ways do perceived political, socio-economic, and cultural differences impact how Germans of the old and new Länder see and participate in their country? Have Germans dealt adequately with their separate pasts in order to craft a joint 21st-century political identity? While there is much to celebrate, what is at stake during the next decade of ‘unifying work’? These and other questions will be discussed with three distinguished experts on German politics, society, and culture.
Radical Diversity: Discussion Series with Mohamed Amjahid and Max Czollek (Montreal)
Villa Aurora Countdown to 25
During 25 days, from November 7th to December 1st, we are offering posts on social media highlighting Villa Aurora artists-in-residents and projects that focus on Villa Aurora. We hope you will join us on this journey!
The Eye - Second Season: Outdoor Screening Exhibition
Artist Manfred Müller presents the second season of The Eye, an outdoor gallery experience, located at the intersection of Westlawn Avenue and Greene Avenue in the West LA neighborhood of Del Rey.
Radical Diversity: Discussion Series with Mohamed Amjahid and Max Czollek (Mexico City)
One Nation – Many Stories: 30 Years of German Unity. A Virtual Panel Discussion
October 3, 2020 marks the 30th anniversary of German unification. The period between the fall of the Wall in November 1989 and the signing of the Unification Treaty on October 3, 1990 stands for German political ingenuity in reclaiming a unified nation. At the same time, we need to acknowledge that Willy Brandt’s dictum “Now what belongs together will grow together” has been only partially realized. While formal unification took barely a year, it turns out that unity takes generations.
Continuing differences in living standards, pensions, political orientations or democratic values indicate that the process of unifying former East and West Germany is a multi-generational project. In what ways do perceived political, socio-economic, and cultural differences impact how Germans of the old and new Länder see and participate in their country? Have Germans dealt adequately with their separate pasts in order to craft a joint 21st-century political identity? While there is much to celebrate, what is at stake during the next decade of ‘unifying work’? These and other questions will be discussed with three distinguished experts on German politics, society, and culture.
Last days of Summer
Join us for our series of events "Last Days of Summer" with readings and drinks. Villa Aurora Alumni Tanja Dückers, Dorothee Elmiger, Andreas Schäfer and photographer Andreas Rost will read from their works and join into conversations with you. Readings and conversations will be held in German.
Radical Diversity: Discussion Series with Mohamed Amjahid and Max Czollek (Houston)
Worldwide Reading in support of the Democracy movement in Hong Kong
Paulskirche: 55 Voices for Democracy
The series “55 Voices for Democracy” is inspired by the 55 BBC radio addresses Thomas Mann delivered from his home in California to thousands of listeners in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, and the occupied Netherlands and Czechoslovakia between October 1940 and the end of World War II in May 1945.
Radical Diversity: Discussion Series with Mohamed Amjahid and Max Czollek
Salon am Hügel: Auf den Palisaden
Andreas Platthaus and Thomas Demand talk about America, houses, Trump and Thomas Mann in a live stream from Villa Hügel.
Virtual Reading and Conversation with Villa Aurora Fellow Maike Wetzel
Villa Aurora Fellow Maike Wetzel is going to read from her new novel "Elly", followed by a conversation with Lisa Napoli. An event in collaboration with Book Soup Los Angeles.
"Resilience and Adaptation: Social Inequity and the Corona Crisis." Discussion with Jutta Allmendinger
Life after the Corona Crisis: In an era of social distancing and sheltering in place, 1014 and the American Council on Germany have launched a series of discussions about the impact of COVID-19 on the global economy, national politics, and society. Each week, experts from both sides of the Atlantic share their insights on how we are adapting to current challenges and what the world might look like after the pandemic.
“Confronting the Past Abroad:" A Conversation with Ayham Majid Agha, Mohamed Amjahid, Olga Grjasnowa and Josh Kun
Confronting the Past Abroad. A conversation with Mohamed Amjahid, Olga Grjasnowa, Ayham Majid Agha and Josh Kun | June 14, 2020
A Conversation with "Unorthodox" director, Maria Schrader
Join The Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival for a ZOOM live discussion with acclaimed German director, Maria Schrader as she talks about her new Netflix series, "UNORTHODOX." It will be moderated by LAJFF’s Executive Director Hilary Helstein with an introduction by German Consul General Schneider. This program is sponsored by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany. Program community partners include Jewish Journal, Goethe-Institut LA, and Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House.
Symposium with Friederike Meyer: "Pandemic Urbanism"
Pandemic Urbanism: A virtual symposium on COVID-19 and cities | May 29, 2020
What does COVID-19 mean for city life? What are the implications of this pandemic for urban mobility, sociability, politics, and density? With more than 50 participants, the symposium offers a full day of presentations and discussion from academics, researchers, practitioners, and activists sharing new ideas about cities during COVID-19.
#Mann's LA
In this social media series, we explore Thomas Mann's Los Angeles and its connections to the present.
#MutuallyMann – A Virtual Reading Initiative
#MutuallyMann was an interactive reading experience and a space for transatlantic conversation in times of social distancing and quarantine.
Symposium with Heike Paul: "Disenchanted Democracy? Cultural Imaginaries of Order and Belonging in a Transatlantic Perspective" [CANCELLED]
Disenchanted Democracy?
Cultural Imaginaries of Order and Belonging in a Transatlantic Perspective.
Panel Discussion: "The Habitus of Power: Female Presidents in TV Series" [CANCELLED]
As part of the university-wide response to COVID-19, USC has cancelled all public events until March 29.
Jan-Werner Müller: On the Future of Political Representation [CANCELLED]
Philosopher and political theorist Jan-Werner Müller will speak in the series "55 Voices for Democracy" on March 13, 2020 at the Thomas Mann House.
WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THAT THIS EVENT WILL BE POSTPONED TO SUMMER 2020.
Fair Pay Political Roundtable with Birte Meier [CANCELLED]
Fair Pay Political Roundtable
Side event during the 64th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
"Following the UN Secretary-General’s recommendation to Member States to amend the format of the 64th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in light of the current concerns regarding coronavirus disease [...] no general debate will take place and all side events planned by Member States and the UN system in conjunction with CSW64 will be cancelled." Read the full statement.
The Fair Pay Political Roundtable will address how to deal with legislations enshrining fair pay principles as individuals. Equal pay for equal work and work of equal value has been high on the international agenda, as the UN Human Rights Council Resolution on equal pay and the engagement of the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC) demonstrates. There are a variety of countries who are rapidly progressing in fair pay legislations. But how can individuals use these laws to ensure fair pay for themselves, in their organizations or private environment.
In the Fair Pay Political Roundtable, experts from policy-making, NGOs, and academia will exchange on legislative approaches across the world and evaluate these approaches in how far they are practically supporting citizens in overcoming the wage gap.
The gender pay gap with its underlying causes is a global phenomenon: no country can report a wage gap of zero. There is strong support for equal pay, as an issue of fairness, and the readiness to act is immense. Irrespective of this consensus, however, women continue to be paid less for the same work or work of equal value.
Political Tribalism in the 21st Century [CANCELED]
This event was canceled due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus.
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House are pleased to invite you to a talk on Political Tribalism in the 21st Century by Amy Chua, Professor of Law at Yale University & author of Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations.
Babylon Berlin Season 3 Premiere
On February 28th Villa Aurora and the Robert Gore Rifkind Foundation are proudly presenting 2 episodes of the brand new season 3 of the hit series BABYLON BERLIN. Following the screening co-creator, writer & director Henk Handloegten and curator of the Robert Gore Rifkind Center, Timothy O. Benson, are going to talk about the art, music and politics that influenced BABYLON BERLIN and changed the course of history.
Workshop with Heike Paul: Gender and Reeducation in Japan, Germany, and the USA after World War II
This interdisciplinary project examines US-American reeducation politics in its various aspects in Germany and Japan after World War II in a transnational and comparative perspective. It takes into account entanglements in the cultural imaginary, the mass media, and civil society at large.
Meet the Fellows on Jan 30th
Welcoming Reception for our current fellows Laurel Halo (Musician), Henk Handloegten (Writer & Director), Judith Kaufmann (Cinematographer; Ballhaus-Fellow), Helmut Oering (Composer, Director & Choreographer), Petra Volpe (Writer & Director) and Nele Wohlart (Writer & Director).
Louisa Clement: Images of humans in the digital age
The possibilities of digitally manipulating images have altered our notion of reality radically. Villa Aurora resident (2019) and visual artist Louisa Clement and Heike Catherina Mertens will discuss Clement’s work, which reflects the relationship of body, machine and technology, exploring the boundaries of being human.
Jan Philipp Reemtsma: Democracy and Emphasis
German scholar and writer Jan Philipp Reemtsma will be fourth to speak in the series 55 Voices for Democracy on January 9, 2020 at the Thomas Mann House.
Participation by invitation only.