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Weimar controversies: Doomsday discussion in the heart of Berlin!
Experience a discussion about Weimar controversies, Goethe's Faust and questions of nature on October 22nd at the Kulturforum Berlin. Admission free.
Weimar controversies: Doomsday discussion in the heart of Berlin!
On October 22, 2025, the Kulturforum Berlin invites you to an exciting event entitled “Say, how do you feel about the end of the world?” a. The start is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., admission is from 6:00 p.m. The event takes place in the café area of the Gemäldegalerie on Matthäikirchplatz in Berlin and has a clear focus on the political and cultural controversies of the present. The historical significance of the symbolic place Weimar is particularly highlighted, especially with regard to Goethe's “Faust” and its connection to current social issues.
This event is part of the Weimar Controversies, which were initiated by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar to reflect the complex relationships between art, politics and society. Eva Geulen, director of the Berlin Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research, and Jürgen Renn, director of the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology in Jena, are expected to take part in the discussion. The conversation will be moderated by Helmut Heit, head of the Friedrich Nietzsche College.
An evening of reflection and discussion
The event deals, among other things, with the urge to create and destroy in Goethe's “Faust II” and asks how these themes can be interpreted in the context of the Anthropocene, the current challenges regarding natural conditions and the climate crisis. Entry to the discussion is free, making these essential topics easier to access.
Previously, on October 8th, a music evening took place in the study center of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library, during which Rainer Maria Rilke's prose text "The Way of Love and Death of Cornet Christoph Rilke" was discussed. Viktor Ullmann, who died in the Theresienstadt concentration camp, set Rilke's story to music for narrator and piano. The interpreter Christian Brückner, accompanied by pianist Daniel Heide, impressed the audience with this moving work. Admission to this musical experience was also free.
Weimar Classicism in context
The Weimar Classic, in which important figures such as Goethe and Schiller worked, was marked by political upheavals, particularly by the French Revolution of 1789. This period was characterized by the ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity, but also brought with it great violence and instability. Napoleon Bonaparte took power in this tumultuous environment and fought several wars in Europe. Surprisingly, the representatives of Weimar Classicism remained largely unaffected by political upheavals, which can be attributed to their disappointment with the consequences of the revolution.
In this sense, the upcoming event will not only serve to reflect on Goethe's work, but also as a platform for a broader discourse about the relationships between art and society in today's times. In view of the ongoing debates about climate change and social justice, the discussion of Goethe's “Faust” in connection with current questions about natural conditions and human action shows its continued relevance.
Further events relating to the Weimar controversies are also planned, including lectures and a conference on military history and social issues, which will take place at various locations until October 24th. Those interested should register early as the number of participants may be limited.
For more information about the events and access to the interesting topics relating to Weimar Classicism, please visit the [Klassik Stiftung Weimar](https://www.tabularasamagazin.de/klasseik-stiftung-weimar- Veranstaltungsuebersicht-7-oktober-24-oktober/) as well as the detailed description of the Weimar Classical.
Also visit the official Prussian Cultural Heritage for current news and events.