Second PEN Berlin Congress: »With Our Head Through the Walls«
16 December 2023, Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
Opening Speech by Deniz Yücel: Active Despair or Behind the Scenes of PEN Berlin
»Even if this is often confused, the debate in Germany is fortunately not about the question ›Israel boycott: yes or no?‹, but about how to deal with artists who support the BDS campaign. (…) Because, in case of doubt, we are always in favour of keeping spaces for debate as open as possible. Because freedom of speech includes the freedom to say stupid, disturbing, even supposedly scandalous things. Because, like last year’s keynote speaker Ayad Akhtar, we are against any ›climate of digital intimidation‹. Because we don’t just reject Cancel Culture when it suits us. For all these reasons, we, the board of PEN Berlin, do not support a blanket boycott of everything and everyone that is somehow labelled ›BDS-related‹. Which is why we don’t support BDS. It’s logical, isn’t it?« FULL SPEECH
Speech by Ursula Krechel: Still Standing for Freedom of Speech
»Everything is in decline: political parties are losing members, churches stand frozen in horror at the sheer number of people leaving, sports clubs complain that no one wants to commit anymore, and volunteer fire brigades lament that only a few are still willing to take on voluntary roles – whether at the fire engine or in a burning house. Let others burn their fingers – or their faces. And here we are – all volunteers, doing a job our parents warned us against. Writers who have come together of their own free will, forming working groups that try to offer protection to those in need. Branches all over the world: strong in numbers, diverse, outstanding performers. Our budget is balanced, the growth in membership remarkable.« FULL SPEECH
Input Talks by Adrian Daub and Susan Neiman: What Is Woke, Where Is Left?
Adrian Daub: »Der Verdacht drängt sich auf, dass es das Objekt der Erregung über Woke so gar nicht gibt, oder wenn, dann nur in der Erregung darüber. Wirklich scharf ist an den Charakteristiken nur die Kritik, die Ablehnung. Es ist keineswegs illegitim, sich eines rechten Kampfbegriffes zu bedienen. Nur: Ob man damit die Linke rettet, steht auf einem anderen Blatt.« GANZES REFERAT
Susan Neiman: »Als erster Stelle steht der Universalismus. Kulturelle Vielfalt ist sowohl eine Tatsache wie auch ein Segen, doch wenn es um politische Fragen geht, sollten wir uns auf das konzentrieren, was alle Menschen verbindet. Das Gegenteil von Universalismus wird heute Identitätspolitik genannt (…). Das zweite Grundprinzip linksliberalen Denkens ist die Forderung, Gerechtigkeitsansprüche und Machtansprüche zu unterscheiden.« GANZES REFERAT
Festrede von A.L. Kennedy: I’m Sorry Everything Is Shit
»When PEN was founded in the UK of 1921, authoritarianism was rising as it is today. An emboldened British ruling class was, as it is today, disproportionately powerful and beguiled by the idea that good fortune is predetermined by blood and soil, that privilege isn’t privilege but divine right. A group of prominent writers took steps to defend writers of fiction, professional liars, if you will. I think, because of the truths central to what we do: all people are people, all have voices, the world is a difficult place and needs mercy, a good life finds its way in pursuing the next loving thing. That sounds weak, unfamiliar, odd even as I say it – but love is the strongest thing. It is to Britain’s eternal shame that, were PEN being founded today, it would be controversial in an energy-sapping way, condemned as an alien contaminant, an example of a self-aggrandising elite.« FULL SPEECH
Scenes from the Congress
Extensive media coverage of the Congress [German]
»With Our Head Through the Walls«: Programme
Festsaal Kreuzberg | Am Flutgraben 2 | 12435 Berlin
Saturday, 16 December | Entry: 1 p.m. | Begin: 2 p.m.
2 p.m. | Opening Speech by Deniz Yücel (Journalist, spokesperson of PEN Berlin) | Festsaal
2.30 p.m. | Problem Baklava: Anti-Semitism & Racism In the Immigration Society
Panel | Festsaal
With: Imran Ayata (campaigner, author, DJ), Jouanna Hassoun (social manager, political trainer), Murat Kayman (lawyer, author) and Erica Zingher (journalist). Host: Daniel-Dylan Böhmer (journalist)
3 p.m. | Poetry As a Way Of Life. Between Networking And Institution
Panel | Kaminzimmer
With: Hendrik Jackson (poet), Birgit Kreipe (poet) and Daniela Seel (poet, publisher). Host: Asmus Trautsch (philosopher, poet)
3.30 p.m. | Talking On Unsteady Ground: Israel & Palestine
Panel | Festsaal
With: Fadi Abdelnour (publisher, bookseller), Sarah El Bulbeisi (cultural scientist), Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus (writer) and Yehudit Yinhar (artist). Host: Elisabeth von Thadden (journalist)
4 p.m. | Me, Mysefl and I: In The Hell Of Autofiction
Panel | Kaminzimmer
With: Katja Lange-Müller (writer), Dirk von Lowtzow (musician, poet) and Miryam Schellbach (literary critic, programme director). Host: Christian Ankowitsch (journalist, writer)
4.30 p.m. | The Spirit Of Freedom Of Speech | Festsaal
Ursula Krechel (writer, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences and Literature Mainz)
4.45 p.m. | What Is Woke, Where Is Left? | Festsaal
Impulse speeches. Followed by a discussion with the audience
With: Adrian Daub (literary scholar), Susan Neiman (philosopher) and The Audience (audience). Host: Jan Feddersen (journalist)
5 p.m. | After The Death Row In Iran: Sareh | Kaminzimmer
With: Sareh (Zahra Sedighi Hamedani) (LGBT activist), Shadi Amin (author, LGBT activist). Host: Shila Behjat (journalist)
6 p.m. | Belarus: On a Forgotten Dictatorship in Europe | Festsaal
Sasha Filipenko (writer)
6.15 p.m. | To Bot Or Not To Bot? Artificial Intelligences Versus Human Beings
Poetry Slam | Festsaal
With: Bas Böttcher (writer, slam poet), Lucia Lucia (writer, slam poet), Jayrôme Robinet (writer, slam poet) and Temye Tesfu (writer, slam poet). Host: Aron Boks (writer, slam poet)
7.30 p.m. | Keynote speech by A.L. Kennedy (writer) | Festsaal
With: Doris Akrap (journalist) & Simone Buchholz (writer, Board PEN Berlin)
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