Trotz allem, allem zum Trotz: Das Ruhrgebiet hat Eigen-Sinn

In the organizer's words:

Panel discussion at the Museum Folkwang

Moderation: Stefan Lüddemann
With Eberhard Schmitt (RAG-Stiftung), Peter Gorschlüter (Folkwang Museum), Britta Peters (Urbane Künste Ruhr), Frank Hillebrandt (FernUniversität in Hagen)

A "Ruhri" doesn't allow himself to be patronized, is direct, jokes even in times of crisis, loves his garden and his dog and stands by his mates. This cliché of the male and family world of miners, known regionally through the literary figure of Kumpel Anton, is not entirely without substance - or political explosiveness. The self-determination of the workforce has shaped the Ruhr region for decades.
Stories of advancement and decline during structural change also tell of a pronounced "stubbornness" that manifested itself both in collective resistance and in everyday practices. However, stubbornness not only meant resistance, but also strength of opinion, creative freedom and skepticism towards authority - visible in politics, art and everyday life.
Today, this mentality is facing new challenges: Democratic crises, social media, artificial intelligence and economic change are altering the conditions of self-determination and participation. But does stubbornness remain a driving force? Is it a resource for the future or an outdated legacy?