Arts.21: Recent Episodes
Deutsche Welle
Culture in Germany: A thriving, cosmopolitan cultural scene, major festivals and fairs. A magazine that has more to offer than Beethoven and Bayreuth.
Antje Rávik Strubel's novel about power and powerlessness tells the story of a young woman from the Czech Republic who struggles to reclaim her life after being raped, weaving together various fates and narrative layers.
An actor wrestles with his past. A profound novel about a man trying to preserve a sense of agency over his life, which becomes even more complex in the midst of difficult questions like, what is guilt? And what is fate?
Six candidates made it onto the shortlist for the coveted literary award. Their novels explore toxic masculinity, family, empowerment and identity. Who wrote the novel of the year?
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's most important meeting place for the book industry. It’s once again taking place in the real world after last year's event was held online due to the pandemic. But can organizers and visitors go back to normal?
Her photos of Angela Merkel are iconic. French photographer Laurence Chaperon has been portraying celebrities from politics and society for decades, looking behind the scenes of power - and combining aesthetics with political messages.
Making music together across cultural boundaries: that’s the idea behind the youth exchange project Campus. On its 20th anniversary, young musicians from all over Europe are invited to participate in the Beethovenfest in Bonn.
The thematic spectrum of 'Tanz im August' ranges from shamanic rituals to the African diaspora to anti-consumerism. The festival takes place in Berlin for the 33rd time — in some unusual places, with surprising performances and over 100 artists.
Arab and Israeli musicians have been playing together harmoniously in this orchestra since 1999, although their home countries are embroiled in a seemingly endless conflict: The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra as a guest at the Rheingau Music Festival.
Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal don’t tear things down. They restore buildings sustainably with surprisingly modest means, while meeting the needs of residents. Their socially and ecologically conscious work won them the 2021 Pritzer Prize.
With Vietnam, war entered the living room via our televisions for the first time. The images ranged from real footage to propaganda. Films like "Coming Home" or "Born on the Fourth of July" depict the war's fallen heroes and traumatized veterans.
Women are typically cast to play widows, mothers, wives, and nurses in this male-dominated film genre. But there are examples of other roles, and more women may soon be 'taking up arms' for Hollywood.
Award-winning German architect Anna Heringer’s vision is to improve the world with architecture. She uses natural construction materials and is causing a worldwide sensation with her earthen buildings.
Berlin's colorful, diverse, queer culture attracts many people of Jewish faith —especially from Israel. They often belong to the third generation of Shoah survivors. How do they deal with trauma?
A rabbi who defies clichés and a film that shakes things up. The new Jewish generation in Germany is quick-witted and self-confident. They're putting an end to a culture of remembrance that fails to embrace the present.
Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra has definitely got rhythm. She’s rehearsing film music from her native country with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra. In the process, she’s found out what drumming & badminton have to do with each other.
For over a year now, “DW Classical Music” on YouTube has delighted classical musical fans from all over the world. With both short clips and in-depth documentaries, viewers can experience stunning moments with award-winning musicians thanks to DW.
A year after her passion project “Mozart y Mambo”, Sarah Willis took another trip to Cuba. A currency reform and the corona pandemic have meant difficult times for the Cuban people. But Mozart and Salsa are helping musicians through the crisis.
A year after her passion project "Mozart y Mambo”, Sarah Willis took another trip to Cuba. A currency reform and the corona pandemic have meant difficult times for the Cuban people. But Mozart and Salsa are helping musicians through the crisis.
House concerts and absence from the stage. Acclaimed jazz trumpeter Till Brönner is one of many artists who have been affected. Instead of relaxed rhythms he’s now striking sharp chords, as a mouthpiece of the cultural scene. A conversation.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, also known as the Pastoral, has inspired artists the world over. DW travels to India, where film composer and Grammy winner Ricky Kej uses unconventional musical projects to advocate for environmental protection.
The Frankfurt Book Fair is the most important event in the international book industry. The 2020 fair will take place online, leaving the event’s large halls empty. How will that work? Arts.21 interviews the fair’s director Juergen Boos.
The scientist Ruweida Aljabali helps refugees, Luka Mukavele teaches African music, and the artist Farzane Vaziritabar draws Nietzsche cartoons. Today’s Weimar is creative and international!
Whether building bridges between Latin America and Europe, or between modern Bolivia and its indigenous history — Elvira Espejo Ayca is in her element. Her road to becoming an artist, author, musician and weaver was long and stony.
South African writer and publisher Zukiswa Wanner is a savvy networker. During the lockdown in Nairobi, she started a pan-African literary festival. She's a citizen of the world and a role model for an entire generation.
There are no swarms of tourists in Venice this year. Large cultural events like the Architecture Biennale have been cancelled, and there is no sign of ocean liners or cruise ships. This unusual stillness is giving Venice a chance to enjoy itself as the fish return to the canals.
Bergen is the rainiest town in Europe. Is that why it has brought forth so many famous writers? Tomas Espedal is from there; Karl Ove Knausgård, his most famous student, spent years there. We visit Norway, the special guest at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
At the Rheingau Musik Festival, the Bochabela String Orchestra performed "Long Way to Freedom“, a programme which paid hommage to Nelson Mandela. The orchestra's musicians hail from South Africa's townships. Arts.21 went to go see them.
Boris Mikhailov chronicled the decay of former Eastern bloc countries in starkly documentary images, yet his work remained largely unpublished until the 1990s. Today, he is one of the leading contemporary photographers of the post-Soviet generation.
Venice, one of the world's most beautiful cities, is teetering on the brink of collapse. It's become a second home to architect and professor Jana Revedin. She talks about what life is really like behind the facades the tourists see.