With: Susan Neiman / and Annemie Vanackere
Susan Neiman in conversation
Part of "The Power of Powerlessness"
- Dialogue
English /
After the performance of "By Heart"
American philosopher Susan Neiman is director of the Einstein Forum in Potsdam. She recently published the book “Why Grow Up?” in which she argues against a resigned view of being grown up, encouraging maturity and therefore also responsibility. “Peter Pan, most drastically imitated by Michael Jackson, is an emblem of our times. Being grown-up is widely considered to be a matter of renouncing your hopes and dreams, accepting the limits of the reality you are given, and resigning yourself to a life that will be less adventurous, worthwhile and significant than you supposed when you began it.” The book is an argument against state-sponsored immaturity and for a life freed from infantilized consumption.
But how far can autonomous self-determination go when people’s attitude towards life these days is defined by the impression that they have less and less influence over their circumstances? What room for manoeuvring is really available to us in a societal order that is increasingly dominated by ideas of profit and in which failure is charged with stigma? As part of the festival “The Power of Powerlessness” Annemie Vanackere, artistic director of HAU Hebbel am Ufer, will speak with Susan Neiman about a philosophy of self-empowerment in the face of this sense of powerlessness, pointing to a political dimension inherent in disclosing feelings of helplessness.
Cast
Dates
Past
Location
HAU1
Stresemannstr. 29, 10963 BerlinThere are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Access to the Parkett by means of a separate entrance with lift when necessary. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Tickets for wheelchair users and accompanying persons can be booked via the ticketing system. If you need any help, please contact our Ticketing & Service team at +49 (0)30 259004-27 or send us an email at
tickets@hebbel-am-ufer.de.
