Thomas Mann Fellows

In the organizer's words:

Aida Baghernejad: cultural journalist

Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Marx: literary scholar, University of Bamberg

Dr. Nils C. Kumkar: Sociologist, University of Bremen

Steven Walter: Director Beethovenfest Bonn

Moderation: Andreas Platthaus, literary editor, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

"Everything seems permissible against human decency" or "The great irritability"

Fellows of the Thomas Mann Fellowship question our present day

The Thomas Mann House in Pacific Palisades, once the writer's Californian exile, has served as a residence for the Federal Republic of Germany since 2018. Intellectuals from various disciplines who live or have lived in Germany develop new ideas here. In the historic villa, they work on their own projects and discuss political, social and cultural issues. This year, Beethovenfest director Steven Walter is also one of the fellows of the house for a few months.

Current and former Thomas Mann Fellows will shed light on the political Thomas Mann in keynote speeches and a panel discussion. They will ask what relevance his observations and warnings have today. Based on the penultimate chapter of "The Magic Mountain", "The Great Irritation", and his "German Address" from 1930, the panel of academics, culture and media will formulate a polyphonic, contemporary 'address' to our polarized and agitated society.