Readings & Lectures
Last Update: 2024-05-09
Friday, 17th May 2024
Agra Hall 4.2
14.00
Lecture (in German): Mark Benecke:“Hundert Jahre Gangster in New York (und warum wegen ihnen Cannabis straffrei wurde)”
(One hundred years of gangsters in New York [and why cannabis will be legalised])
Criminal biologist Mark Benecke, who lived in a basement in Manhattan's gangster district at night in the 1990s - next to the last, forgotten but originally preserved “speakeasy” - and worked in New York's forensic medicine department during the day, shows how this is directly related.
16.45 – 18.00
Book presentation (in German): Florian Völker “Kälte-Pop”The author examines the history, motifs and strategies as well as the end of the short-lived ‘cold wave’ in German-language pop music (1978-1983) and its heirs. Among other things, he explores the questions of why bands such as Kraftwerk, DAF and Einstürzende Neubauten formulated an offensive "yes" to everything that was rejected in the left-wing alternative counterculture, why black-romantic cold motifs became more attractive and what consequences the staging of the 'cold German' had for German and international pop culture.
Bibliothek Plagwitz (Veranstaltungsraum)
19.30 – 21.00
Multimedia presentation (in German): “Friedhöfe der Welt - keine Wiederkehr ohne Abschied” (Cemeteries of the world - No return without farewell)This lecture by Jörg Hertel brings together very different places of lively encounters, which can also be transit stations, i.e. places of hope, of consolation, of moving on.
Haus des Buches
16.00
Lecture (in German): “Verteufelte Waldgötter - Die Christianisierung der Germanen”(Demonized forest gods - The Christianization of the Germanic tribes)
Thomas Höffgen, Germanist and philosopher, researches pagan traditions and nature magic folklore in Europe. He is the author of several books in the field of Germanic antiquity and Nordic nature religion.
18.00
Lecture (in German): “Die Welt der Toten - Ahnenkult und Geisterglaube in Europa”(The world of the dead - ancestor worship and belief in spirits in Europe)
Nicole Höffgen studied religious studies and philosophy and worked as a university lecturer for seven years. As a freelance religious scholar, she offers seminars on the pagan religious history of Europe.
Kleine Träumerei (Café)
11.00 a.m. – 12.00
Reading (in German): Frank R. “Mein tolltumultricktuarisches Leben als Kobold”(My fabulous multicultural life as a leprechaun)
A novel for imaginative childish minds, unfashionable dreamers, also for parents and those who want to become one, in a romantic style: fairytale-like, mysterious, whimsical.
A maximum of 30 places are available.
Universitätsbibliothek Albertina (Cafe Alibi)
17.00
Lecture (in German): “Vampyrologie des Lesens – oder: Warum Vampire Bücher brauchen und Lesen riskant ist”(Vampyrology of reading - or: Why vampires need books and reading is risky)
The Albertina Library invites you to a vampiric teatime. There could hardly be a better place for this, as the University of Leipzig was a center of excellence for scholarly vampire research around 1730 with the so-called “Leipzig Vampire Debate”, which attracted attention throughout Europe. This tradition will be followed up on in terms of subject matter, content and theory from a specifically librarian perspective.
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Eric Steinhauer
Saturday, 18th May 2024
Agra Hall 4.2
13.30
Lecture (in German): Mark Benecke:“Hundert Jahre Gangster in New York (und warum wegen ihnen Cannabis straffrei wurde)”
(One hundred years of gangsters in New York [and why cannabis will be legalised])
Criminal biologist Mark Benecke, who lived in a basement in Manhattan's gangster district at night in the 1990s - next to the last, forgotten but originally preserved “speakeasy” - and worked in New York's forensic medicine department during the day, shows how this is directly related.
16.15 – 17.30
Dark cabarett (in German): Der Tod – “Best of Death Comedy”Since 2011, Death himself has been on a major “image campaign” and is now touring this world with four full-length performances.
Ballsaal Leipzig-Dölitz
Gothic Identity
During the 31st Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Gothic Identity has again organised a series of lectures and discussions in English, that will focus on several aspects of the gothic identity including its history, the use of political or spiritual symbolism, and the deeper artistic concepts.
Alexander Pehlemann (D) – Zonic Magazin
In the last decade of the GDR, punk and its experimental ramifications in post-punk, new wave, electronic music and avant-garde rock and pop also found their listeners in this quiet country. The book “Magnetizdat DDR” tells the story of how consumers quickly became producers and how a self-publishing cassette scene emerged throughout the GDR, the magnetic tape underground or rather a magnetizdat, derived from samizdat and tamizdat in the Soviet counterculture. Co-editor and author Alexander Pehlemann gives a rare English presentation with Q&A session
Xavier Kruth (B) – Dark Entries Magazine
In the years after the Prague Spring and the invasion by the Warsaw Pact in 1968, an underground rock scene appeared in Czechoslovakia. The underground rock scene was apolitical in its philosophy, but the harsh repression in the years of ‘normalisation’ – including prison sentences for several musicians – led it to be at the genesis of a human rights movement that questioned the communist dictatorship: Charta 77.
Dan Von Hoyel (USA) – Harmjoy
From classical symphonies to soundtracks, the ability for music to elicit suspense, dread, and spine-tingling terror is such a predictably universal effect, there has to be some science to this. What gives some music the specific ability to sound scary? This talk explains what many composers, psychologists, and mathematicians have discovered to be the musical keys that can unlock our primal fears.
Dave Rout & Andreas Gregor (CDN) – Techniques Berlin & Bang Elektroika, Jen Hoffert-Karas (USA/D) – Gothic Beauty Magazine, Dan Von Hoyel (USA) – Harmjoy, Sky Severin (USA) –Freie Universität Berlin, Moderation: Eden Lost (USA/S)
Some people completely stumble across the goth music genre without knowing it has a name. Something just clicks, something just fits. Whereas others see a subculture, see a mindset and a community and say “now that is something I want to be a part of.” This panel of goths and other various weirdos will discuss their very different experiences in becoming part of the scene.
Dr. Mark Booth (GB) - UK Astronomy Technology Centre
In the far reaches of the Solar System, out beyond the orbit of Neptune, dwell thousands of cold, dark and icy objects - the brethren of Pluto. These cometary bodies can teach us about the ancient history of our Solar System. The dust created by similar objects around other stars provides us with a way to infer the locations of unseen planets. Near or far, these objects can often tell us more about planetary systems than the planets themselves.
Manuel Soares (P) – Coimbra University
Media can either cHallnge or continue stereotypes, especially when it comes to subcultures like Goths. Through analyzing various movies and television shows with Goth characters, we discuss how often typical stereotypes are shown. While it can be difficult to determine the creators intentions, it's important to recognize how these portrayals can influence how the public views the Goth subculture.
Jana Komaritsa (USA) – Darkrad
The lecture will delve into themes of dark eroticism, exploring the intersection between sexuality and themes of death, decay, symbolism, supernatural and esoteric beliefs; examining how artists navigate the complexities of desire and fear and explore themes of transcendence and transformation.
Alexander Nym (D) – editor of Schillerndes Dunkel & NSK State In Time: Past – Present – Future,
The Jewish mystical tradition of the Quabbala is a somewhat riddled source of inspiration for contemporary artists. From literature to film, “QBL” has left a trace of hints and references, and especially so in the world of (alternative) pop music. Cultural theorist Alexander Nym explores the usage of quabbalistic references in recent contemporary music production, from Leonard Cohen to Current 93, from David Bowie to The Cassandra Complex, and from Madonna to Zero Kama.
During the 31st Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Gothic Identity has again organised a series of lectures and discussions in English, that will focus on several aspects of the gothic identity including its history, the use of political or spiritual symbolism, and the deeper artistic concepts.
12.00 noon
Lecture (in English): Magnetizdat East: Magnetic Tape Underground behind the Iron CurtainAlexander Pehlemann (D) – Zonic Magazin
In the last decade of the GDR, punk and its experimental ramifications in post-punk, new wave, electronic music and avant-garde rock and pop also found their listeners in this quiet country. The book “Magnetizdat DDR” tells the story of how consumers quickly became producers and how a self-publishing cassette scene emerged throughout the GDR, the magnetic tape underground or rather a magnetizdat, derived from samizdat and tamizdat in the Soviet counterculture. Co-editor and author Alexander Pehlemann gives a rare English presentation with Q&A session
12.45 Uhr
Lecture (in English) The Czech Underground: how musicians took on totalitarianismXavier Kruth (B) – Dark Entries Magazine
In the years after the Prague Spring and the invasion by the Warsaw Pact in 1968, an underground rock scene appeared in Czechoslovakia. The underground rock scene was apolitical in its philosophy, but the harsh repression in the years of ‘normalisation’ – including prison sentences for several musicians – led it to be at the genesis of a human rights movement that questioned the communist dictatorship: Charta 77.
13.30
Q & A with Alexander Pehlemann and Xavier Kruth13.40
Lecture (in English): On a Frightening Note: The Science of Scary MusicDan Von Hoyel (USA) – Harmjoy
From classical symphonies to soundtracks, the ability for music to elicit suspense, dread, and spine-tingling terror is such a predictably universal effect, there has to be some science to this. What gives some music the specific ability to sound scary? This talk explains what many composers, psychologists, and mathematicians have discovered to be the musical keys that can unlock our primal fears.
14.00
Panel discussion (in English): Gothic by design or Gothic by accidentDave Rout & Andreas Gregor (CDN) – Techniques Berlin & Bang Elektroika, Jen Hoffert-Karas (USA/D) – Gothic Beauty Magazine, Dan Von Hoyel (USA) – Harmjoy, Sky Severin (USA) –Freie Universität Berlin, Moderation: Eden Lost (USA/S)
Some people completely stumble across the goth music genre without knowing it has a name. Something just clicks, something just fits. Whereas others see a subculture, see a mindset and a community and say “now that is something I want to be a part of.” This panel of goths and other various weirdos will discuss their very different experiences in becoming part of the scene.
15.00
Lecture (in English): The Cold Dark Reaches of the Solar SystemDr. Mark Booth (GB) - UK Astronomy Technology Centre
In the far reaches of the Solar System, out beyond the orbit of Neptune, dwell thousands of cold, dark and icy objects - the brethren of Pluto. These cometary bodies can teach us about the ancient history of our Solar System. The dust created by similar objects around other stars provides us with a way to infer the locations of unseen planets. Near or far, these objects can often tell us more about planetary systems than the planets themselves.
15.45
Lecture (in English): Dissecting Misguided Representations: Exploring Negative Stereotypes of Goths in Film and TelevisionManuel Soares (P) – Coimbra University
Media can either cHallnge or continue stereotypes, especially when it comes to subcultures like Goths. Through analyzing various movies and television shows with Goth characters, we discuss how often typical stereotypes are shown. While it can be difficult to determine the creators intentions, it's important to recognize how these portrayals can influence how the public views the Goth subculture.
16.30
Lecture (in English): Dark Eroticism, Mysticism and the Macabre in Visual ArtsJana Komaritsa (USA) – Darkrad
The lecture will delve into themes of dark eroticism, exploring the intersection between sexuality and themes of death, decay, symbolism, supernatural and esoteric beliefs; examining how artists navigate the complexities of desire and fear and explore themes of transcendence and transformation.
17.15
Lecture (in English): QBL & POP – Quabbalistic References in Contemporary Pop CultureAlexander Nym (D) – editor of Schillerndes Dunkel & NSK State In Time: Past – Present – Future,
The Jewish mystical tradition of the Quabbala is a somewhat riddled source of inspiration for contemporary artists. From literature to film, “QBL” has left a trace of hints and references, and especially so in the world of (alternative) pop music. Cultural theorist Alexander Nym explores the usage of quabbalistic references in recent contemporary music production, from Leonard Cohen to Current 93, from David Bowie to The Cassandra Complex, and from Madonna to Zero Kama.
Budde-Haus
16.00
Lecture (in German): “Mythos Vampir”Sebastian Helm studied English and Philosophy at the Universities of Leipzig and Bristol. He writes for the working group's MYTHO blog and is part of the MYTHO-Cast team, the association's own podcast.
18.00
Lecture and discussion (in German): “Der Teufel und seine Mythen”(The Devil & His Myths)
With our brief cultural history of the devil, we aim to provide an insight into this multifaceted figure and answer some questions
Dr. Katja Schmieder is an Americanist. She teaches and researches at the University of Leipzig.
Heidnisches Dorf
KULTHAUS IV - Secret scientific lectures and presentations in the vaulted hall of the Torhaus Dölitz
(Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot in the Book of the Law)
Further topics are the signs of the zodiac in Crowley's “Liber AL” and your stars in the Abraxas calendar.
14.50 – 15.30
Lecture (in German): Claas Hoffmann alias Fürst Claas vom Mars: “Aleister Crowleys Thoth Tarot im Buch des Gesetzes”(Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot in the Book of the Law)
Further topics are the signs of the zodiac in Crowley's “Liber AL” and your stars in the Abraxas calendar.
16.20 – 17.00
Concert: Jim Cosmo und Fürst Claas vom Mars: “The greatest hits of the Time and Space Society”Kleine Träumerei (Café)
11.00 a.m. – 12.00
Reading (in German): Frank R. “Mein tolltumultricktuarisches Leben als Kobold”(My fabulous multicultural life as a leprechaun)
A novel for imaginative childish minds, unfashionable dreamers, also for parents and those who want to become one, in a romantic style: fairytale-like, mysterious, whimsical.
A maximum of 30 places are available.
Kunst liebt Mut Galerie
15.00 - 16.00
Reading and book presentation (in German): Florentine Joop und Holger Much: “Rabenschwester - Soweit die Flügel tragen”Peterskirche
12.00 – 13.00
Reading (in German): Markus Heitz - “ALL DARK & FUN - Böses, Düsteres, Lustiges”13.20 – 14.00
Reading (in German): Oswald Henke - “Keine Lesung, sondern eine Wortperformance”(Not a reading, but rather a word performance)
A look back at more than 35 years of eloquence, which sometimes simply touches gently, invites us to remember, or gives words to other people’s pain.
Stasi-Unterlagen-Archiv Leipzig
14.00
Lecture (in German): “Heavy Metal als Subkultur in der DDR”(Heavy Metal as a Subculture in the GDR)
The historian Dr. Nikolai Okunew has researched for his book “Red Metal. Die Heavy-Metal-Subkultur der DDR” and gives a multimedia overview of the history of this subculture on the occasion of the Wave-Gotik-Treffen.
Sunday, 19th May 2024
Agra Hall 4.2
13.45 – 15.00
Musical Thriller-Reading (in German): Thomas Matiszik “Todesprüfung”After his Modrich trilogy, Thomas Matiszik launched his new thriller series with “Tiefschwarze Schuld” and is now unleashing a worthy successor on his readers with “Todesprüfung”.
15.30 – 17.00
Dark cabarett (in German): Der Tod – “Best of Death Comedy”Since 2011, Death himself has been on a major “image campaign” and is now touring this world with four full-length performances.
Budde-Haus
14.30
Philosophiscal Salon (in German): “Vom Sinn und Unsinn unserer Existenz”(The sense and nonsense of our existence)
With: Dr. Jirko Krauß, Leipzig; Johanna Kosch, Stuttgart; Stefanie Rieger, Graz
Deutsches Buch- und Schriftmuseum der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek
14.30 - 15.30
Reading (in German): Christian von Aster “DIE SCHWARZE KUNST 2.0. - jetzt noch finsterer …"Meeting point: Vortragsraum
Galerie Koenitz
11.00 a.m. – 12.00
Lecture about the exhibition (in German) “Von Symbolen, Mythen und Fabelwesen” - Der Symbolismus im mitteldeutschen Raum“With Vincent Welz (Art historian, Galerie Koenitz) und Axel Menz (Hekate)
The exhibition at Galerie Koenitz presents works of Saxon Symbolism: works by Max Klinger, Otto Greiner and Sascha Schneider, among others, are complemented by works by Franz Stassen, Fidus and Melchior Lechter. The works depict mystical dream worlds, dark fantasies and dream journeys into the world of fairy tales, myths and legends.
Heidnisches Dorf
KULTHAUS IV - Secret scientific lectures and presentations in the vaulted hall of the Torhaus Dölitz
(A.A. - Crowley’s secret order The Great Beast 666)
(From Lilith to Na'amah - trauma and healing)
15.10 – 15.50
Lecture (in German): Janosch Moser “A.A. - Crowleys geheimer Orden The Great Beast 666”(A.A. - Crowley’s secret order The Great Beast 666)
16.50 – 17.30
Lecture (in German): Janosch Moser “Von Lilith zu Na'amah - Trauma und Heilung”(From Lilith to Na'amah - trauma and healing)
Kunst liebt Mut Galerie
15.00 – 16.00
Reading (in German): Luci van Org and Florentine Joop: „Blutdialoge“ - a mix of wisdom, the feminine and humourMoritzbastei (Ratstonne)
15.00 – 16.30
Reading (in German): Thomas Willmann “Der eiserne Marquis”Thomas Willmann is the author of the successfully adapted bestseller “Das finstere Tal” (The Dark Valley) - a dark tale of revenge set in a remote high valley in the Alps at the end of the 19th century. His new novel is a fascinating mix of genres, with references to the classic Bildungsroman and the horror epic.
16.45 – 18.00
Reading (in German) with Alexander Nym: “Gotisch Gruseln, aber richtig!”Cultural scientist and scene chronicler Alexander Nym gives an insight into the roots of classic gothic horror.
Monday, 20th May 2024
Agra Hall 4.2
14.00 – 16.30
Lecture (in German): Mark Benecke:“Hundert Jahre Gangster in New York (und warum wegen ihnen Cannabis straffrei wurde)”
(One hundred years of gangsters in New York [and why cannabis will be legalised])
Criminal biologist Mark Benecke, who lived in a basement in Manhattan's gangster district at night in the 1990s - next to the last, forgotten but originally preserved “speakeasy” - and worked in New York's forensic medicine department during the day, shows how this is directly related.
17.00 – 18.10
Cabarett (in German): Lisa Eckhart – „Kaiserin Stasi die Erste“A mixture of Stalin and Sisi – Empress Stasi the First, ruler over Austria and East Germany.