Literary Arts and Humanities Section

Literary Arts and Humanities Section Calendar of Events 2013

Dear friends and supporters of the Literary Arts and Humanities Section, We are pleased to present our 2013 Calendar of Events with information regarding opportunities for study and work within the Literary Arts and Humanities Section. The experience of the threshold in the age of the spiritual (or consciousness) soul is a theme that runs like a thread through almost all the major conferences this year. Since the humanities form, in content and method, a bridge between the arts and the sciences, they provide access to this theme in a way that requires diversity in the way reality is perceived and experienced. This fact is reflected in the interdisciplinarity of the events on offer. This year s Whitsun conference, for instance, has been conceived as a workshop conference that relies strongly on artistic activity. In 2013 we will celebrate the 100 th anniversary of the first edition of Rudolf Steiner s The Threshold of the Spiritual World. A special conference will be devoted to exploring the dimensions of this work. Two cultural conferences will focus on central motifs in the history of consciousness. Our various specialist colloquia on Rudolf Steiner s creative language impulse, on art history, linguistics and the folktales aim at penetrating and deepening each of these fields through anthroposophy. In September 2012, the publishing house Verlag am Goetheanum became an integral part of the Literary Arts and Humanities Section. It links the Section with an important field of work. We are happy to send you our catalogue and information on new titles on request. Alternatively please visit www.vamg.ch For further information regarding the work of the Section, the section groups in the various countries, the study groups and literature please visit the Section website at ssw.goetheanum.org If you don t have internet access, please let us know and we will send you this information by post. In anticipation of many inspiring meetings, with warm regards,

25 27 January Weekend conference Finding one s humanity in contemporary drama. The work of Albert Steffen with Reinhard Bode, Hans-Peter Egloff, Christine Engels and Heinz Matile Post-Christian drama has as its object the higher human being that is not physically conceived. This is how Albert Steffen once described his view of drama in an essay. In lectures and conversation groups we will explore the question of how we can approach drama in a way that is appropriate today. Two entirely different performances will provide insight into Steffen s dramatic work: The Fall of the Antichrist, written in 1928, is set in Central Europe at the end of the 20 th century. Hiram and Solomon, written in 1925, takes us to Jerusalem, 1000 years before the birth of Christ. From the latter, a scene will be performed. The scenarios could not be more different. But it is this contrast that brings us closer to Steffen s understanding of modern drama. The central theme is always the evolving higher human being that inspires and supports the development of our own higher self. 1 3 February Folktale seminar Folktales and Rosicrucianism The wisdom of the simpleton with Almut Bockemühl and Heidrun Stöbe-Eckardt In European folktales that feature three brothers, the youngest brother is always the simpleton who is mocked by the others. In the end he invariably proves not to be such a simpleton after all. He is the one who carries the future impulses. Folktales teach us that we must learn to be open to future impulses. Which qualities set the simpleton apart from his brothers? We will look at several folktales with this question in mind. Contributions from conference members are welcome, but please register them in advance. The seminar continues its work on Rosicrucianism but is open to new participants. 3 February Poetry Evening I Glimpses of Light Eduard Mörike. Life and work Georg Glöckler, introduction; speech chorus; Goetheanum Eurythmy Ensemble Eduard Mörike s unmistakable language opens up fascinating worlds of poetry, allowing the listener to experience life and nature in a new way. Through eurythmy we enter even more deeply into the poetic language, so that the living artistic forces can speak to us synaesthetically.

1 3 March Folktale Seminar Time to wait time to act Angelika Schmucker and Silvia Studer-Frangi The manifold aspects of time find dramatic and poetic expression in the folktales of many peoples: the protagonists go through situations of need or crisis and find that, after a period of waiting, they can continue on their way with new vigour. Other stories describe a quest where the main character finds new orientation after a time of rest or, more importantly, is enabled to receive help. But when is the right time for waiting? When is the right moment for acting? We will pursue these questions in our seminar while we listen to folktales and explore their imagery. 8 10 March Twelfth Colloquium on Linguistics Magdalena Zoeppritz, Rimbert Chrobock, Michael Türk et al. Among other things, we will explore the concept of concept ; with contributions from participants on their particular fields of work, followed by discussion. We warmly welcome new participants and their contributions. Contact: magdalena-zoeppritz@rhein-neckar.de /Literary Arts and Humanities Section 17 March Poetry evening II Growing through the I Fercher von Steinwand (1828-1902) Andrea Hitsch, introduction; Nathalie Kux, recitation: Goetheanum Eurythmy Ensemble I regard the fact that I was able to meet Fercher von Steinwand as one of the important experiences of my youth, for his personality struck me as that of a wise man who reveals his wisdom in true poetry. (Rudolf Steiner) 12 14 April Weekend conference in cooperation with the General Anthroposophical Section Studies on the work of Rudolf Steiner The Threshold of the Spiritual World 100 years later Corinna Gleide, Christiane Haid, Constanza Kaliks, Paul Mackay, Robin Schmidt et al. In his preface to The Threshold of the Spiritual World Rudolf Steiner announced that it was his endeavour to continue to present the spiritual facts described in his writings from ever different points of view. This endeavour reflects the need for continuous spiritual mobility.

We would like to take the opportunity of the 100 th anniversary of this work to look at its special quality and at its reception today. The study days aim at deepening the central themes of this book and describe the conditions surrounding its conception in 1913. The work groups will study and deepen particular themes. The leitmotif of the conference is the experience of the threshold in all spheres of life. 14 April Poetry evening III The World s Inner Space The life and work of Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) Almut Bockemühl, introduction; Herbert Heinz Friedrich, speech; Tobias Margiani, harp Rilke was deeply absorbed and touched by the concept of angels. In his poetry we find the sentence: Every angel is terrifying. This is about our relationship with the angelic world, with the world s inner space. For the poet the world s inner space is not only the cosmos but also our inner world that corresponds with the cosmos. 19 21 April Colloquium on Folktales Thymiane Baumeier, Almut Bockemühl, Angelika Schmucker et al. The colloquium looks at folktales from the anthroposophical point of view and includes text study on Rudolf Steiner s work, reports and conversations on specific aspects such as storytelling, style, symbolism, image consciousness etc. The preparation of folktale seminars and conferences is also part of these meetings that take place twice yearly. We welcome new participants after a preliminary conversation. Contact: Literary Arts and Humanities Section 26 28 April Twelfth Colloquium on Art History Cornelia Debus, Roland Halfen, Alexander Schaumann, Jutta Wortmann et al. The colloquium will focus on photography and anthroposophy (lecture and discussion) and the relationship between the theory and presentation of art, based on examples from the documenta (major German exhibition of contemporary art) and the Goetheanum. There will be various presentations followed by discussion and we will practise art observation on original pieces. Participation on request / contact: Literary Arts and Humanities Section

2 May Colloquium on Rudolf Steiner s Creative Language Impulse Christiane Haid, coordinator This work group meets twice a year in Dornach. Its main focus is Rudolf Steiner s specific linguistic style and his view of language which can both be explored in the great number of statements by Steiner regarding the nature of the word and of language and also in what he said about recitation and eurythmy. Another aspect of this group s work is the poetological and scientific study of Steiner texts with the inclusion of examples from literature. By invitation only / contact: Literary Arts and Humanities Section 3 5 May Colloquium on the language of poetry Almuth Bockemühl and Emily Feuchtinger, coordinators Since 1991, our group has met twice yearly to discuss the lyrical work of modern and classical authors. A group of people carries this work and is joined by guests who have a special interest in a particular author. No previous philological knowledge is required. The group members decide together on the theme for the next meeting. The venue alternates between Dornach and Salem near Lake Constance (Germany). Participation on request / contact: Literary Arts and Humanities Section 12 May Poetry Evening IV Up they soar, the planet s butterflies G. Antonia and Hans-D. Jendreyko, speech The great European poet Inger Christensen from Denmark (1935 2009), her prose and poetry. With an exhibition by Bettina Müller. 17 20 May In cooperation with the Section for the Arts of Eurythmy, Speech, Drama and Music and the General Anthroposophical Section Whitsun Conference The sources of art The consciousness soul at the threshold Lectures by Michael Debus, Christiane Haid, Christian Hitsch, Armin Husemann Artistic performances, artistic work groups With this conference we want to enter more deeply into Rudolf Steiner s artistic impulse, from architecture to eurythmy. In the age of the spiritual soul the question as to the sources of art arises equally for us as creators or receivers of art. In either case we experience

phenomena that have to do with the unconscious crossing of the threshold. For the modern artist who wants to take up this impulse, this means: the I, beginning at the level of the spiritual soul, includes its experiences of inner development into the creative process. It then arrives at and crosses the threshold. In order to create works of art that express the inner life in the sense that spiritual laws are brought to bear not as transferable rules but as individual spiritual experiences we must foster and deepen our inner life so it becomes more susceptible to content, and we need to acquire artistic skills so that the piece of art can manifest itself (style). This, in short, is the ideal we are striving for in our work. Our conference is open to active artists and anybody who is interested in art. 7 9 June Cultural Conference Labyrinths dimensions of an archetypal image Werner Barfod, Roland Halfen, Wolfgang Schad et al. From prehistoric stone settings to the Cathedral of Chartres, from Roman graffiti to the early medieval codex, from Greek myth to modern narrative the labyrinth has accompanied European humanity from its beginnings to this day in such diverse configurations that its seemingly inexhaustible source seems to lie in the very depths (or abysses) of the human being. The myth of Minotaur and Daedalus, the architect, of Theseus and Ariadne, of error, love, death and victory combines so many motifs of human existence that it has lost nothing of its fascination today. It can blossom again each time it is examined or contemplated. This conference will trace the image s essential manifestations and relevant traditions and try to uncover its various spiritual dimensions through word, image and eurythmy. 12 14 July Weekend Conference Metamorphoses of tragic awareness preconditions for the development of the spiritual soul Christiane Haid, Michael Kurtz, Heinz Matile, Bodo von Plato and Christof Wiechert Songs: Maret Winger, soprano; Steffen Hartmann, piano In the age of the spiritual (or consciousness) soul we have the tragic choice between actively striving to find the spirit or sinking to a subhuman level by not taking hold of our own development. Our struggle with our higher humanity is a central motif in Albert Steffen s poetry: the new tragedy of the age of the spiritual soul that he impressively outlines in his essay Metamorphoses of Tragic Awareness. The conference, that commemorates the 50 th anniversary of Steffen s death on 13 July 2013, features two plays: the tragedy Hiram and Solomon (1925) and the dramatic sketch The Fall of the Antichrist (1928), staged in German and French. A concert with poems by Albert Steffen, set to music by Raimund Schwedeler and Torben Maiwald, and lectures on Steffen s work will bring the theme of the spiritual soul to life and underline the relevance of this writer in our time.

11 13 October Class Conference of the Literary Arts and Humanities Section Christiane Haid, coordinator The class conference of the Literary Arts and Humanities Section serves the esoteric deepening of the Section work. New impulses have been considered that will be developed in the time leading up to October, so that the next meeting can be shaped out of these impulses. By Invitation only 13 October Poetry Evening V Early sun over the community Adelheid Petersen-von Sybel (1878-1966): biographical sketches, poetry and paintings Andrea Hitsch, reading and introduction This writer, poet, lecturer, leader of society and painter with public exhibitions maintained a lively correspondence with diverse other artists. Rudolf Steiner appreciated her rhetoric skills and Albert Steffen her treatises on the mystery dramas. 18 20 October Colloquium on Folktales see 19 21 April 8 10 November Cultural Conference Parzival Parsifal. The myth of the human being and the spiritual soul on the occasion of Richard Wagner s 200 th birthday Michael Debus, Katrin Ellger, Jürgen Gerlinger, Christiane Haid, Bruno Sandkühler et al. The path from Wolfram von Eschenbach s epos Parzival to Richard Wagner s Stage Consecration Festival Parsifal runs from the Middle Ages to the spiritual foundations of the present time. Rudolf Steiner first mentioned the future reappearance of the Christ in connection with Richard Wagner and his Parsifal, which reveals itself to deeper investigation as the Grail mystery of our time. Through music and lectures we will try to come closer to Wagner s legacy.

8 10 November Folktale Seminar The Tale of the Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily Caspar von Loeper and Catherine Ann Schmid Goethe s Tale is important for anthroposophy and especially for the Mystery Dramas. Its images constituted after all the starting point for the first two mystery dramas. In artistic exercises and spiritual scientific contemplations the seminar will try to cast light on the imagery in Goethe s tale. 10 November Poetry evening VI My path loses itself in distant clouds Chinese poems from three millennia Michael Kurtz, reading and introduction; Joachim Pfeffinger, flute; Goetheanum Eurythmy Ensemble Through changing seasons and times of war and peace in this great Empire, poems from three millennia speak in compelling images of the individual who often dwells far from home. 21 November Colloquium on Rudolf Steiner s Creative Language Impulse See 2 May Subject to alterations 8 December Poetry Evening VII Saturn in the winter skies leads the way Albert Steffen Advent and Christmas in poetry Christiane Haid, introduction; Agnes Zehnter, recitation; Goetheanum Eurythmy Ensemble Albert Steffen s poems about advent and Christmas are strikingly modern because they speak the language of the consciousness soul. Threshold experiences and ways of overcoming them, doubts, coldness and the longing for higher development are inner processes that Steffen captures in the inimitable mood and style of his poetry.

Contact The Literary Arts and Humanities Section, Goetheanum Postfach, CH-4143 Dornach phone +41 61 706 4382 / fax + 41 61 706 4428 ssw@goetheanum.ch, ssw.goetheanum.org Programmes and application forms Goetheanum Reception, Postfach, Ch-4143 Dornach Fax + 41 61 706 44 46, phone + 41 61 706 4444 tickets@goetheanum.ch, www.goetheanum.org The Section work is funded by membership contributions to the General Anthroposophical Society and gift money. We are grateful for any donations. Swiss Account Allgemeine Anthroposophische Gesellschaft, Postfach 4143 Dornach, Switzerland IBAN CH36 8093 9000 0010 0607 1 Raiffeisenbank Dornach, CH-4143 Dornach BIC RAIFCH22 Important: please don t forget to include the reference: Spende SSW 1350 German Account (with charitable donation certificate) Anthoposophische Gesellschaft in Deutschland GLS Gemeinschaftsbank eg Account No 10 084 510 Sort code 430 609 67 IBAN DE13 4306 0967 0010 0845 10 BIC GENODEM1GLS Important: please don t forget to include the reference Spende SSW 1350