July 25-26, 2020
The conference looks to explore the ways in which Gemeinschaft is constructed and re-defined in German speaking communities during crises. We are looking for contributions from linguistics, literature, and cultural studies to explore how collective identities and communities are formed and reshaped in “normal” times as well as moments of crises. The Covid-19 pandemic has led many communities to redefine themselves and explore virtual means of maintaining or even creating a new Gemeinschaftsgefühl. But throughout history, Gemeinschaft has often been defined and represented in various forms and shapes and we are interested in a variety of perspectives on literary, historical, and contemporary examples and their linguistic, political, and cultural consequences.
Our Conference schedule and programme booklet are now online!
Panels
Minorities during the Holocaust
This panel will explore communities of minority victim groups who suffered during the Holocaust, and how they are being remembered in Germany.
Gemeinschaft in the Weimar Republic
The question this panel seeks to answer is how Gemeinschaft was created and re-invented in the Weimar Republic, a time characterised by economic, political and social crisis.
Sense of Community in Remembering the GDR
Is there any sense of Gemeinschaft in looking back at the memory of the GDR? Or is memory inseparable from personal experiences?
Inclusivity through Gender-Neutral Language
This panel invites contributions on the different possibilities of gender-neutral and gender-sensitive communication in German language and the limits and limitations of these options.
Community in Virtual Spaces
This panel seeks to explore how online communities can be defined and understood, what Gemeinschaft signifies in the virtual context, and which benefits can be gained for the field of German studies.
Reading Group: Environmental Crisis and Sense of Community
Authors engage in public discourses on environmental crisis to reflect on the current situation and encourage public actions that can halt the fast advancing phenomenon.
Any questions?
Please contact us at info@gemeinschaft2020.org
Host institutions
Gemeinschaft 2020 