Franz Kafka – the Second Century

June 3, 2024 marks the centenary of Franz Kafka's death, and it is obviously just the beginning of another century of reception of his work. On two evenings, the Akademie der Künste will once again try to get to the bottom of the poet's fascination. As internationally renowned Kafka experts, Kafka biographer Reiner Stach and Kafka editor Hans-Gerd Koch will give key lectures. Members of the Literature Section will give their views on „their Kafka“ in pointed individual contributions.

Text collages will be presented as part of the supporting program. KUNSTWELTEN presents the results of workshops in which high school students compete against ChatGPT under the direction of Thomas Lehr or interpret The Metamorphosis in drawings together with Felix Baxman. In the black box, the filmed production of Ein Bericht für eine Akademie (A Report for an Academy) (1962), directed by Willi Schmidt and starring Klaus Kammer, can be rediscovered. A showcase exhibition shows how Kafka inspired other artists.

The program on 3.6

18:00 - Film screening: Ein Bericht für eine Akademie (A Report for an Academy) (1962), recording of the production by Willi Schmidt with Klaus Kammer - (in the Blackbox, admission free)

19:00 - Opening and welcome (Thomas Lehr, Kerstin Hensel)

Declamation of a Kafka text (Linus Hüsam)

Lecture: „Der Prozess vom Prozess: Geschichte und seine annotierte Version bei Wallstein“ (The process of the trial: history and its annotated version at Wallstein) (Reiner Stach)

Break

20:30 - Current artistic positions on Kafka by: Ulrike Draesner, Kathrin Röggla, Aris Fioretos and Cécile Wajsbrot

21:30 - Concluding discussion with all participants, moderated by Maike Albath

The program on 4.6

18:00 - Film screening: Ein Bericht für eine Akademie (A Report for an Academy) (1962), recording of the production by Willi Schmidt with Klaus Kammer - (in the Blackbox, admission free)

19:00 - Opening and welcome (Thomas Lehr, Nathalie Mälzer)

Declamation of a Kafka text (Linus Hüsam)

Lecture: „Kafka in Berlin“ (Hans-Gerd Koch)

Break

20:30 - Current artistic positions on Kafka by: Katja Lange-Müller, Kathrin Schmidt, Thomas Lehr and Hanns Zischler

21:30 - Concluding discussion with all participants, moderated by Meike Feßmann

Admission:

7.50 € / 5 € for one evening; 12 € / 8 € combined ticket for both days