internationales literaturfestival berlin 2009, Concluding Remarks

It is easy to like this festival and the people behind it. The ilb is not everybody’s cup of tea and it not designed to be. It is for those willing to take the time to explore a different and sometimes strange world – the world of the other: the other country, language, another experience. This is not a common attitude but it is also not special other than in being based on curiosity for knowledge or the unfamiliar.

The political character of the festival is also crucial. Less because of its direct impact on actual (national or regional) politics – the fact that there are national elections in Germany in a couple of weeks time; and that Berlin has experienced a breakdown of part of its train system (apparently due to failures in maintenance that went unobserved for some time) did not figure at the festival in any way other than in private discussions or as side-jokes. The festival’s politics are rather ascertained in more global terms – in relation to foreign policy, democratic politics, the politics of discrimination and the politics of ignorance.

The circumstances of the death of a train passenger at a Münich suburb station at the beginning of this week is a dire reminder of the way in which our lives risk becoming isolated in both ignorance and apathy. The 50 year-old man died trying to protect a group of young children from the violent attack of another group of youngsters (not older than 18). Worse still: he died because some 15 to 20 other train passengers which observed the situation failed to intervene. Dominik B. died because of his civil courage and the lack of the same in others.

Violence in schools and among adolescents was one of the themes addressed by the ‘Children and Youth’ programme of the ilb – an important and timely extension of the festival’s scope considering this and other violent events involving youth during the last couple of years. The festival’s youth programme as much as its fringe-like social programme (Rahmenprogramme) are important aspects of the ilb’s socio-political function.

More generally it can only be wished that the ilb and institutions like it continue to address address topical issues and to interest individuals – young and old – to remain curious, discover new worlds in books or in their lives and thus fight ignorance.

P.S. Notebook found, many thanks to T.G and Babylon movie-theatre staff