Essay Prize 2012 - Flyer
Cited literature: Contact:
HANS ULRICH GUMBRECHT: Unsere breite Gegen- Bent Gebert (initiator of the essay prize)
wart, trans. Frank Born, Frankfurt a.M. 2010 bent.gebert@germanistik.uni-freiburg.de
(Edition Suhrkamp 2627).
REINHART KOSELLECK: ›Neuzeit‹. Zur Semantik
Deutsches Seminar
– Germanistische Mediävistik
moderner Bewegungsbegriffe. In: Vergange-
Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
ne Zukunft. Zur Semantik geschichtlicher
Platz der Universität 3
Zeiten, Frankfurt a.M. 1989 (stw 757), 300-
D-79085 Freiburg i.Br.
348.
Germany
HARTMUT ROSA: Beschleunigung. Die Verände-
rung der Zeitstrukturen in der Moderne,
Frankfurt a.M. 2005 (stw 1760).
HARTMUT ROSA: Modernisierung als soziale Be-
schleunigung. Kontinuierliche Steigerungs-
dynamik und kulturelle Diskontinuität. In:
Kulturen der Moderne. Soziologische Per-
spektiven der Gegenwart, ed. Thorsten Bo-
nacker and Andreas Reckwitz, Frankfurt
a.M./New York 2007, 140-172.
Call for Papers Conditions
Is history shrinking? Researchers in the fields of With the rapid spread of audiobooks we suddenly All essays, written in German or English, must not exceed
social sciences and cultural studies have recently find ourselves experiencing literature in a manner 55,000 characters (including spaces) and must be sub-
come to observe a global tendency: with the end surprisingly similar to that of the medieval semi- mitted to Bent Gebert (bent.gebert@ germanistik.uni-
of the 20th century, our relationship with the past oral tradition; we do not, however, consider this freiburg.de; Deutsches Seminar der Universität Freiburg,
has begun to change fundamentally. Sociolo- development a “return to the Middle Ages.” Apo- Platz der Universität 3, 79085 Freiburg, Germany) before
gists, for instance, have detected a “de-tempo- calyptic scenarios re-emerge in literature and film 10 Oct 2012. Please attach a valid copy of your certifi-
ralization of history” (Hartmut Rosa), tracing this as well as in scientific prognoses of today, displa- cate of enrolment. By submitting their contribution, parti-
development to the dynamics of acceleration and cing expectations of open future and progress and cipants agree to a possible publication afterwards. Every
the multiplication of social change in modern life. thereby re-introducing structural aspects of the me- competitor may hand in one essay only. The best 10 es-
With the “chronotope of historicism” on the wa- dieval world view – though ecological and demog- says will be awarded book prizes with an overall worth of
ne, the border between present and past is be- raphic catastrophes have long since taken the pla- € 1,700. Sufficient quality provided, successful contribu-
coming increasingly permeable: historical distan- ce of a Final Judgement in our imagining. tors will be offered the prospect of publication of the
ce, it seems, is dissolving into an increasingly Such phenomena seem to undermine the marked winning essays by our partner, Rombach publishing hou-
“broad present” (Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht). historicity of the Middle Ages. If the “simultaneity of se.
This change of perception affects our relationship the sequential” can be regarded as a key feature of The jury consists of members of the University of Freiburg
with the Middle Ages in particular; after all, their how modern history has been experienced (Rein- Centre for Medieval Studies. The jury reserves the right to
baffling mixture of overtly marked historicity and hart Koselleck), the combination of marked histori- not award the prize at all or not for all places.
oblique omnipresence permeates our present like city and unmarked presence puts the Middle Ages
few other periods. Today, medieval architecture beyond the reach of attempts at ordering even mo- This essay prize has been made possible thanks to the
can just as readily be found in historical city cent- re fundamentally. generous support of all of its partners:
res as it can be on the ahistorical sets of Harry
Potter; modern life-style and wellness guides It is the aim of this essay prize to support students’
draw their inspiration from religious and medical research into medieval culture and to honour par-
texts of medieval monastic life; knights with ticularly original ideas. The entry is open to every
swords and armour take their place on the battle- student (including PhD-students) who may apply
fields of online role-playing games among a host with a previously unpublished essay answering the
of other fantasy characters as a matter of course. following question:
In more than 30 German cities, women now live To what extent do medieval phenomena still exist
together in communities modelled after those of in our present without being perceived as histori-
the medieval Beguines; the 13th century roots as cal?
dwelling for a Christian sisterhood are by no
means detrimental to their attractiveness as con-
temporary, emancipated forms of living.