Max Kade Visiting Author: Selim Özdoğan

During the fall semester, we will host Turkish-German author Selim Özdoğan in a three-month Writer-in-Residence program, funded by the Max Kade Foundation. As the author of eleven novels and four short story collections, Özdoğan has contributed significantly to the contemporary field of transnational German literature. He received the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize in 1999, and has since held fellowships from diverse organizations such as the Literaturbüro NRW (2006), the Arts Foundation of North-Rhein Westphalia (2014), and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (2015). Özdoğan maintains a weekly column with Zeit Online and has substantial experience working with students at different levels.

At the core of this residency is a one-credit writing workshop, which will meet for two hours a week over the course of seven weeks. We will also arrange for Özdoğan to visit diverse classes within the Department, ranging from our workshop in literary translation to seminars in literature and culture. The presence of a Turkish-German author on campus will be an invaluable supplement to our current curricular offerings; it will afford students an experiential point of access to topics addressed in the classroom, and will expand students’ understanding of minority culture in Germany today.

Mark your calendars for these events:

Gegenwartsliteratur Symposium

Tuesday, September 20, 4:00 pm
UMMA Multi-Purpose Room
525 South State Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Selim Özdoğan will be joined by Kerstin Hensel and Ulrich Peltzer for a discussion on contemporary German literature. On the preceding evening (Monday, 9/19) we will screen and discuss Christoph Hochhäusler’s most recent film, Die Lügen der Sieger (2014), which Peltzer co-wrote.

DeVries-Vanderkooy Lecture: Ronald Bartlema

Thursday, October 6, 8:00 pm
Vandenberg Room, Michigan League
911 North University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Ronald Bartlema is the director of NOS Jeugdjournaal, a 35-year old Dutch television news program for children.

Gunther Hauk Lecture

Friday, November 4, 6:30–8:00 pm
Great Lakes Room, Palmer Commons
100 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Teacher, lecturer, biodynamic gardener, and beekeeper Gunther Hauk's book, Toward Saving the Honeybee, calls for a change in approach to beekeeping. Lecturer Andrew Mills, who teaches a bee-themed section of German 325, invited Hauk to U-M to discuss the future of bee species.

The Norén Festival

November 16–20
various locations across campus

The works of Swedish playwright, novelist, and poet Lars Norén will be showcased by Chicago-based theater group Akvavit, Kate Mendeloff, Malcolm Tulip, and Maria Lindholm Gochman.