Ika Sperling: »Der Große Reset«

In the organizer's words:

Book launch and discussion

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic, many people have agreed that conspiracy narratives pose a threat to democracy and social cohesion. Even if the topic is currently less present in public perception, 15 percent of Germans still believe in events whose "larger" connections are concealed and in secret organizations that pull the strings in the background. The current crisis is the perfect catalyst for the popularity of conspiracy narratives to rise again - the belief in and spread of conspiracy narratives therefore remains a socially relevant topic at both a societal and individual level.

In her autobiographically inspired graphic novel "The Great Reset", which she presents in the SOCIAL SPACE, comic artist & illustrator Ika Sperling tells the story of how it feels in private when a family member believes in dystopian conspiracy narratives: How does everyday family life work when one person questions everything? What conversations do you have when you can only stumble from one blunder to the next? And do you manage to influence close relatives after all?

We want to address these questions together with Ika Sperling. In conversation with Matthias Pöhlmann (Commissioner for Sectarian and Worldview Issues of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria), we will discuss the dangers of conspiracy narratives for democracy and social cohesion and how to stay in contact with affected family members or friends despite all disagreements.

With: Ilka Sperling (illustrator & comic artist) & Matthias Pöhlmann (Commissioner for Sectarian and Worldview Issues of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria)