Ost meets West: Music and identity at the TAZ Panter Prize in Bochum!

Ost meets West: Music and identity at the TAZ Panter Prize in Bochum!

July 6, 2025 is all about the discussion about the cultural differences between East and West Germany. As part of the TAZ Panter award ceremony in Bochum, Dennis Chiponda broke a lively discussion with the artists Simon Klemp, a rock musician from Bonn, and Johannes Prautzsch, the guitarist and singer of the post-hardcore band child. The topic is: "Unity of East and West in the German music scene". According to taz.de Are burning questions discussed: Are the similarities greater than the differences? How do musicians reflect their identity in their works?

Both guests bring interesting perspectives with them. Simon Klemp, known as the "Klaus Kinski des Stadionrock", grew up in Bonn and went through an unusual career in music, which is characterized by acting and studying literature and philosophy. In contrast, Johannes Prautzsch, who grew up in Leipzig, is in contrast. His musical training was promoted by his grandmother, who encouraged him to practice piano. He reflects on clichéd attributions with which he was confronted in the West, and expresses that these aspects of his East German origin were often not aware of before.

cultural identity and challenges

Prautzsch when it comes to the perception of East German identity in music. For a long time he denied his own origin and confessed to having felt a shame about the association with "Nazi-Saxony". In his efforts to write music that does not sound East German, he tries to escape the pressure of West German musicians who suggested to speak "East German". Klemp, on the other hand, sees the regional differences more than the categories east and west and criticizes social isolation as well as a lack of political engagement, especially in the context of the climate crisis.

The discussion also takes on socio -political dimensions. Chiponda draws attention to the pejorative experiences that many East Germans make. Prautzsch expresses that he rated the German will to unity positively, even in a European context. This is in line with the current discourse on the importance and perception of East Germany in the Federal Republic. After all, the election succession of right -wing extremists in Saxony, Brandenburg and Thuringia revived the interest in this region in autumn 2019, as reported by the Federal Center for Political Education ( bpb.de ).

social diversity and perspectives

The examination of East German identity is particularly important for the adhesive youth. According to a study by the Otto Brenner Foundation, only 20% of young East Germans feel “East German”, while 65% believe that their origin plays a role in everyday life. This ambivalent self -awareness and social challenges illustrate how much the feeling has changed for identity over the past three decades. Young East Germans reject “Eastern Valley” perspectives and at the same time recognize the complexity of their history.

The discussions in the podcast "Mauerecho - Ost meets West", which appears on Sundays on taz.de and other platforms, give an important impulse to reflect on these topics and to find a common identity without negating the differences. The dialogue between East and West Germans remains crucial, not only for the music scene, but for the entire society.