Thomas Mann House Events Archive
May 2022
Between Los Angeles and Europe: New Approaches to Transatlantic European Studies | Seminar at UCLA
Los Angeles
Information
The seminar begins with an overview of transatlantic cultural, literary, and historical studies going as far back as the colonial era (New Spain, Mexican California). Then, it examines the displacement and dispossession of Indigenous peoples in southern California by Anglo-Americans and European settlers during the nineteenth century, followed by a targeted investigation of transatlantic relations between Angelenos and German immigrants during the twentieth century.
Students apply their newly acquired knowledge to current transatlantic debates in culture, politics, and society. By integrating these lessons into community-engaged interviews with four Thomas Mann Fellows, they explore on a weekly basis concrete, praxis-oriented approaches to transatlantic European studies. Part of the class will be the Thomas Mann Fellows Sunhild Kleingärtner, Christine Landfried, Andreas Nitsche, and Claus Pias. Students go back and forth between Professor David Kim’s seminar on campus and a community-engaged project. In addition, they participate in an interview workshop led by Lynell George, a renowned journalist and essayist. Last but not least, they work with Jimmy Zavala at the UCLA Library Special Collections and with Michaela Ullmann at the USC Libraries Special Collections. The outcome of their individual and collaborative work is a set of public-facing projects shared with communities near and far and during a presentation at the Thomas Mann House in June.
The seminar is led by David D. Kim, Professor at the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles in collaboration with Nikolai Blaumer, Program Director, and Benno Herz, Project and Communications Manager.
Partners
The Seminar is a cooperation between the University of California, Los Angeles' Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies and the Thomas Mann House
Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e. V. is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.
The Sound of San Remo Drive - Music in Time of Anxiety and Unrest
Online
Information
Against the backdrop of the recent war in Ukraine, Maestro James Conlon, music director of Los Angeles Opera and principal conductor of the RAI National Symphony, and Stefan Schneider, German Consul General in Los Angeles, came together at the Thomas Mann House to talk about the role of music in time of anxiety and unrest. Listening to a handpicked selection of Consul Schneider's vinyl collection, the two reflect on the subversive power of music and how songs can be a beacon of hope in challenging times.
During Thomas Mann’s exile in Los Angeles, music played an integral part in his intellectual and social life. At his house on San Remo Drive, Mann listened to his large collection of records — from Beethoven to Wagner to Benjamin Britten — and would host his friend, the conductor Bruno Walter, at musical evenings. At the house or in other settings, Mann had in-depth exchanges with some of the most influential musical figures of the time: Arnold Schoenberg, Theodor W. Adorno, Hanns Eisler, Ernst Toch and many others. The ongoing event series The Sound of San Remo Drive is inspired by these evenings.
A recording of the conversation at the Thomas Mann House will premiere on May 8 at 10 a.m. (PT) on our YouTube channel!
Participants
James Conlon is the music director of Los Angeles Opera, principal conductor of the RAI National Symphony Orchestra, and artistic advisor to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He is one of today’s most versatile and respected conductors, has cultivated a vast symphonic, operatic and choral repertoire. He has conducted virtually every major American and European symphony orchestra since his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1974. Through worldwide touring, an extensive discography and videography, numerous essays and commentaries, frequent television appearances and guest speaking engagements, Mr. Conlon is one of classical music’s most recognized interpreters.
Stefan Schneider has been Consul General in Los Angeles since September 2018. He started his diplomatic career in 1987, and his many assignments have taken him all over the world. Before being posted to Los Angeles as Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, he held various positions in different fields at the German Foreign Office and in Bangkok, Sofia, Miami, Paris, Rome, as well as in Izmir where he served as Consul General. He is a lawyer and studied French literature.
Watch here:
Pre-Listening Lounge: Exit Exil
Berlin
Information
This summer, VATMH will release the EXIT EXIL app, which tells the stories of the artists and intellectuals who left Europe to flee the Nazi regime for America.
Users of the app gain insight into the hopes, goals, dreams, and fears of the refugees. They become part of a conversation between the historical figures and alumni of the Villa Aurora and Thomas Mann House residency programs, who today seek to engage with the circumstances and fates of the displaced.
But the app also provides insights into the lives of people living in migration today, who face challenges very similar to those of the historical figures.
On Sunday, May 8, we will provide an exclusive insight into artistic contributions by VATMH alumni and collaborative projects with Freie Universität Berlin and Deutschlandfunk.
EXIT EXIL is a project of Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House e.V. (VATMH) and is intended to develop in the coming years into a central platform for artistic, journalistic and scholarly contributions with a focus on German-speaking exile in the USA. Current debates on migration, integration, etc. will have a prominent place.
EXIT EXIL is designed as a network project and will be successively expanded to include further content from alumni of the VATMH residency programs and cooperation partners from culture and academia. The infrastructure of the app is secured for ten years.
EXIT EXIL was developed within the framework of "dive in. Program for Digital Interactions" of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) in the NEUSTART KULTUR program.
More Information
Admission is free.
Since April 1, there are no longer any corona restrictions. However, for your protection and ours, we currently still recommend that you continue to wear a mask while attending the event and that you test yourself in advance. If you feel ill, we ask you to stay at home.
With your participation you agree to the publication of photographs and videos by VATMH e.V., which may be taken by you during the event.
There is no checkroom available. Please refrain from bringing large pieces of luggage.
Partners
Rebirth of Cultural Spaces in Post-COVID Time
Los Angeles
Information
The Covid pandemic seems to have transformed our way of life. A new organization of time and of our social practices has emerged and evolved under the effect of the fluctuations of the restrictions imposed by the sanitary constraints. Our relationship to culture has also been modified: confinement has limited access to many physical cultural goods and has eliminated access to out-of-home culture. Has this new spatio-temporal framework, centered on the home, permanently modified our practice of leisure? Do cultural institutions question their role in society and their relationship with the public considering these changes?
Paleontologist Luis Chiappe of the National History Museum Los Angeles, Regan Pro, Deputy Director of Public Programs and Social Impact at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art and Benno Herz, acting Program Director at the Thomas Mann House will get into conversation about the rebirth of cultural spaces in post-COVID time . Moderated by L.A. Times journalist and author Patt Morrison.
This panel is part of Villa Albertine's 2022 Night of Ideas & presented by the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles. The conversation will take place on May 9, Europe Day, at the Résidence de France, Los Angeles.
Partners
An event by Villa Albertine & the Consulate General of France in Los Angeles.
Planetary thinking
Berlin
Information
Thinking planetary means taking the earth seriously as a planet. Life on our planet is in danger. In order to be able to change socio-political actions and live sustainability, new scientific findings and thought-provoking impulses are needed.
Political scientist Claus Leggewie, biologist Katrin Böhning-Gaese and theologian Christoph Markschies seit the interaction between the planet and humans at the center of their interest in knowledge and action.
Partners
An event by Villa Aurora & Thomas Mann House and the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences Sciences and Humanities as part of Salon Sophie Charlotte. For more information, please visit salon2022.bbaw.de.
Democracy Redesigned - New Forms of Citizens' Participation
Seattle
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For the last decade we have observed that representative democracies in Europe and in the United States of America are endangered. A growing segment of the population is not only losing trust into the political elites, but also in democratic institutions. One consequence is the success of populist leaders and their anti-democratic and anti-pluralist politics. Another consequence is that social cohesion is becoming fragile. Polarization is increasing. What can be done? In her talk, Professor Landfried will discuss whether new forms of citizens’ participation, such as citizens' assemblies, are a way of rebuilding trust. Citizens, selected by lot and representative for society, are developing on the basis of an intense and informed debate recommendations for the solution of urgent political problems. Do such new forms of participation have an impact on real politics and do they effectively strengthen democracy?
Goethe Pop Up Seattle and the Thomas Mann House present a conversation on "Democracy Redesigned - New Forms of Citizens' Participation" between Christine Landfried (University of Hamburg and a 2022 Thomas Mann House Los Angeles), Joyce M. Nushaben (Georgetown University) and Mark A. Smith (Department of Political Science, University of Washington).
The event is open to the public. To RSVP please click here.
Participants
Christine Landfried is an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Hamburg and a 2022 Thomas Mann House Fellow. A central focus of her work is on political finance, constitutional jurisdiction, European integration and the role of art in democratic societies. In her studies of the EU, she analyzes the conditions under which cultural, economic and political differences can be a potential for democratic governance. During her fellowship at the Thomas Mann House, Christine Landfried wants to investigate whether new forms of political participation, such as citizen conferences, can help to regain trust in democratic politics.
Joyce Mushaben is an Adjunct Professor in the BMW Center for German and European Studies at Georgetown University and reitred Curators' Distinguished Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her work focuses on German and European politics, gender, migration, and identity. She is the author of multiple books including Becoming Madam Chancellor: Angel Merkel and the Berlin Republic. Other articles of hers have been featured World Politics, Polity, West European Politics, German Politics & Society, the Journal of Peace Research, Democratization, Citizenship Studies, Femina Politica, and the Journal of Ethnicity & Migration Studies.
Mark Alan Smith is a professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Political Science at the University of Washington. His work focuses on American politics culture, religion, as well as economic issues and the rhetoric of conservatism. Most recently, he is the author of the book Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics which argues that there is a commonality between all American (secular and religious) moral and political viewpoints. His debut book, American Business and Political Power: Public Opinion, Elections, and Democracy won the Leon Epstein Award from the American Political Science Association.
Attendance Information
To RSVP for this conversation, please click here. Registration is free and open to the public.
Location:
University of Washington, Allen Library. Donald E. Peterson Room (Room 485)
Partners
This event is hosted and supported by the Goethe Pop Up Seattle, the Center for West European Studies/Jean Monnet Center of Excellence in the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the Lee Scheingold Fund, the Department of Political Science, and the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles.
Jews, Arabs, and Whiteness
Los Angeles
Information
Over the course of many centuries in Europe, Jews were cast as the ultimate Other, both religiously (Christian/Jew) and later “racially” (Aryan/Jew). But what happened when Jews emigrated to the United States, where the White/Black dichotomy predominates? When and why did the majority of American Jews come to be considered “white”—and how is this complicated by the fact that both Blacks and Jews are still the primary targets of “white supremacists”?
Back in Europe, anti-Semitism persists: but following three centuries of colonialism and a half-century of post-colonialism, a White/People of Color dichotomy has become prevalent. How is European “whiteness” different from that in the United States—and who constitute People of Color in contemporary Europe?
A recording of the conversation at the Thomas Mann House will premier on May 27 at 10 a.m. (PT) on our YouTube channel!
Participants
Mohamed Amjahid was born as the son of so-called guest workers in Frankfurt am Main in 1988. He studied political science in Berlin and Cairo. After completing his master's degree Amjahid worked for several big German newspapers. Amjahid is a political journalist, book author and moderator. He was an editor at ZEITmagazin and was awarded among others the Alexander Rhomberg Prize and the Henri Nannen Prize. He received wide attention for his bestsellers Among Whites and Whitewash. Amjahid is a 2022 Fellow at the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles.
Peter Jelavich is author and Professor of History at the Johns Hopkins University. He specializes in the cultural and intellectual history of Europe since the Enlightenment, with emphasis on Germany. His areas of interest include the interaction of elite and popular culture; the history of mass culture and the media; and the application of cultural and social theories to historical study. He is the author of Munich and Theatrical Modernism: Politics, Playwriting, and Performance, 1890-1914 (1985), Berlin Cabaret (1993), and Berlin Alexanderplatz: Radio, Film, and the Death of Weimar Culture (2006). He currently is writing a book on censorship of the arts in Germany from 1890 to the present.