Rescue in sight? Ulrike Draesner is fighting for the Leipzig Literature Institute!

Rescue in sight? Ulrike Draesner is fighting for the Leipzig Literature Institute!

Karl-Tauchnitz-Straße 8, 04107 Leipzig, Deutschland - The Leipzig-leipzig-land/ulrike-draesner-deutsches-dll-kultur-news-100 op. Founded "Johannes R. Becher" and has been an important place for the training of prospective writers since then. The important connection to the history of German literature is not only in tradition, but also in the current development of the institute.

Ulrike Draesner, who became the first professor on the DLL in 2018, points out that the institute is currently confronted with cuts. To ensure the company, a support association called "Institute Society" was launched. The main task of the DLL is to support and promote creative and literary -talented students on their way. Prospective authors learn in an atmosphere that has been very diversified in recent years, from a institution that has once been considered "men's company" to a school shaped by more female professors.

change and variety of topics

The generation change on the DLL also has an impact on the topics that are dealt with in applications and submitted texts. Contents that deal with Coming of Age, dystopias and gender, sex and identity issues are particularly common. This change is not only reflected in the texts of the students, but also in the programs and events of the institute, which aim to enable participants to become critical skills.

The DLL is located in Villa Giesecke, a place with an independent story. Over time, the building was used by the People's Police and the Stasi. Draesner has launched an exhibition that illustrates the connection of the institution to city history and its literary heritage.

historical roots

The historical roots of the DLL are closely linked to the literature institute "Johannes R. Becher", which was founded in 1955. It was the first of its kind in Western Europe and aimed to promote the ideological and artistic training of writers, inspired by the Moscow Maxim-Gorki literature institute. The university status was obtained in 1958 and the institute was named after Hans R. Becher the following year.

from 1955 to the dissolution in 1990 a large number of students completed the study program. Characterized by a relatively open atmosphere, some internationally recognized authors were produced here. The facility gained valuable experiences over the years, including the famous illegal poetry reading from 1968 at the Elsterstausee, which led to the discovery of the writer Wolfgang Hilbig.

In 1995, the DLL was founded under the University of Leipzig after students successfully protested to revive the institute. Today's range of courses includes theory and practical seminars as well as creative workshop seminars. Around 15 applications are accepted every year, and the students have the opportunity to publish their works in the anthology "Typing Community".

Where the DLL will develop in the coming years remains to be seen. However, the signs are on change and adaptation to meet the challenges of modern literature and promote new talents. A first step was taken by the foundation of the "institute society", which could play a leading role in the future of the institute.