Gegenerzählungen: Dissidenz und Widerstand in Literatur und Geschichte

Protest, resistance, opposition, and defiance are among the defining forms of social and political expression in modernity. These forms exist in both the public and private spheres and manifest through political action, art, literature, and intellectual intervention. In the 20th century, extreme violence and repressive dictatorships sparked an extraordinary variety of dissident attitudes and practices. Some of these are becoming relevant again in light of the crisis facing postwar European orders. These attitudes and practices transcend national borders, connecting diverse political and cultural contexts and raising fundamental questions about individual responsibility, the scope of action for civil society, the treatment of minorities, and ultimately, the nature of the state itself.

In this workshop, we will examine selected examples of dissident positions and their various forms of expression. We will focus on actors, texts, artistic works, and historical contexts that challenge established literary and historical narratives. We will pay particular attention to gaps and blind spots in collective memory, the mechanisms of canonization and exclusion, and why certain dissenting voices have been marginalized or forgotten.

“Counter-narratives” have been a focus of the ZfL and the DI for a long time. In this workshop, we will explore dissent as a multifaceted phenomenon at the intersection of political action, ethics, and culture, and its implications for contemporary democratic societies under pressure.