Lecture series "Beyond Eden" at Bremen's Überseemuseum

On Wednesday, 28th of February at 7:30 p.m. the lecture series „Jenseits von Eden: Orte des Paradiesischen in der Geschichte” (Beyond Eden: Places of Paradise in History) will begin in Bremen’s Überseemuseum. Organized in cooperation with Jacobs University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, four lectures will accompany the recent museum exhibition “1001 Nacht – Wege in Paradies“, which is a journey through various ideals of "paradise".

[ Feb 28, 2007]  The first of the four lectures will be held by Sonja Kinzler of the Kieler Stadt und Schifffahrtsmuseum, former PhD graduate of Jacobs University. Her lecture, “Schlaflos im Paradies – Wissenschaftliche und vorwissenschaftliche Vorstellung vom Schlaf in der Neuzeit”, will provide a historic overview of the interpretations of sleep and the lack of sleep.

The following Wednesdays in March, scholars from Jacobs University Bremen and Mannheim University will elaborate on different notions of paradise:

Wednesday, March 7, 7:30 p.m.
Westliche Zivilisationskritik und die Suche nach dem spirituellen Paradies im Orient – Die Theosophische Gesellschaft in Indien (ca. 1875-1930)
Dr. Harald Fischer-Tiné, Professor of History at Jacobs University Bremen will give insights into the concept of paradise in Indian society and its effects on western beliefs.

Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.
Paradies am Mount Kenia- Theodor Hertkas koloniale Sozialutopie „Freiland“ von 1890
Dr. Bernhard Gißibl, Universität Mannheim, will talk about the novel “Freiland” by the Austrian writer Theodor Hertzka.

Wednesday, March 21, 7:30 p.m.
Letzte Tierparadiese – Bernhard Grzimeks Afrikafilme der fünfziger Jahre
Prof. Dr. Johannes Paulmann, Universität Mannheim, Animal paradises, as they were depicted in the movies of the famous zoologist Bernhard Grzimek, are another topic of the lecture series.

Wednesday, March 28, 7:30 p.m.
Auf dem Weg in eine bessere Gesellschaft – Visionen von einem „Neuen China“ unter Mao Zedong
Dr. Nicola Spakowski, Professor of History at Jacobs Univeristy Bremen will discuss Maoism as an example for an utopian aspiration.

The lecture series will be held at the Übersee-Museum Bremen, Bahnhofsplatz 13

For further information please contact:
Prof. Dr. Johannes Paulmann
Universität Mannheim
Tel: 0621-181 2260 /2255
E-mail: j.paulmann@uni-mannheim.de