• #Event Review
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Inclinations: Queer Intimacies in Literature and Culture Before the Mid-Nineteenth Century

28/11/2024, Essen

two organisers of the conference addressing the audience

The three-day international conference ‘Inclinations: Männerfreundschaften / Frauenfreundschaften’, which took place at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities from 21 to 23 November 2024, shed light on representations of queer intimacies and inclinations in German-language literature and culture. It focussed on periods preceding the mid-nineteenth century, before concepts for categorising and labelling sexual difference (such as “homosexuality”) were firmly established in Western culture.

In various lectures and discussions, scholars from Austria, Canada, Germany and the USA examined works of authors such as Bettine von Arnim, Rainer Maria Fassbinder, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff, Adalbert Stifter and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, showing how different facets of friendship and queer intimacy are portrayed and reflected on in novels, stories, poems, and letters. This included a closer look at the ways literature mirrored and (partly) negotiated gender norms and inequalities in society at the time, for instance through the language ascribed to female characters to discuss sexuality. The second conference day was concluded with an author’s reading: Angela Steidele read from her book Geschichte einer Liebe (Suhrkamp) about the life-long partnership of Adele Schopenhauer and Sybille Mertens-Schaaffhausen, in which she deconstructs common clichés about women in the Goethezeit.

The conference facilitated a fruitful dialogue between international researchers in different phases of their academic career, with publications and continued cooperation being planned. It was organised by the College’s current Senior Fellows Imke Meyer and Heidi Schlipphacke, professors of German studies from the University of Illinois Chicago, and their tandem partner Sigrid Nieberle from the Institute for Diversity Studies at TU Dortmund University, in cooperation with the Goethe Society of North America. The subsequent Emerging Scholars Workshop provided the complementary opportunity for doctoral students to present and discuss their PhD projects.

Learn more about the project

Conference website

Impressions

Welcome address by Prof. Maximiliane Wilkesmann, member of the Scientific Board of the College
Welcome address by Prof. Maximiliane Wilkesmann, member of the Scientific Board of the College

Welcome address by Prof. Maximiliane Wilkesmann, member of the Scientific Board of the College

Introduction by Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, Institute for Diversity Studies
Introduction by Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, Institute for Diversity Studies

Introduction by Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, Institute for Diversity Studies

Introduction by Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, Institute for Diversity Studies

Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College
Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College

Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College

Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College

Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College

Welcome Address by Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, Senior Fellows at the College

Presentation by Prof. Alice Kuzniar, University of Waterloo (Canada), on 'Droste-Hülshoff’s Queer Vibrational Bodies'
Presentation by Prof. Alice Kuzniar, University of Waterloo (Canada), on 'Droste-Hülshoff’s Queer Vibrational Bodies'

Presentation by Prof. Alice Kuzniar, University of Waterloo (Canada), on 'Droste-Hülshoff’s Queer Vibrational Bodies'

Presentation by Prof. Alice Kuzniar, University of Waterloo (Canada), on 'Droste-Hülshoff’s Queer Vibrational Bodies'

Presentation by Prof. Andreas Kraß, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, on 'Christoph Heins Verwirrnis (2018)'
Presentation by Prof. Andreas Kraß, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, on 'Christoph Heins Verwirrnis (2018)'

Presentation by Prof. Andreas Kraß, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, on 'Christoph Heins "Verwirrnis" (2018)'

Presentation by Prof. Andreas Kraß, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, on 'Christoph Heins "Verwirrnis" (2018)'

Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Andreas Kraß
Prof. Imke Meyer and Prof. Andreas Kraß

Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, reading from Bettine von Arnim's 'Aphorismen'
Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, reading from Bettine von Arnim's 'Aphorismen'

Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, reading from Bettine von Arnim's 'Aphorismen'

Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'
Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'

Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'

Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'

Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'

Presentation by Prof. Susanne Hochreiter, University of Wien, on 'Betty Paoli'

Presentation by Prof. Horst Lange, University of Central Arkansas, on 'Goethes Werther: Die Neuerfindung der Maskulinität aus dem Geiste Spinozas'
Presentation by Prof. Horst Lange, University of Central Arkansas, on 'Goethes Werther: Die Neuerfindung der Maskulinität aus dem Geiste Spinozas'

Presentation by Prof. Horst Lange, University of Central Arkansas, on 'Goethes Werther: Die Neuerfindung der Maskulinität aus dem Geiste Spinozas'

Panel Moderator Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut, Europa-Universität Flensburg
Panel Moderator Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut, Europa-Universität Flensburg

Presentation by Prof. Helmut Puff, University of Michigan, on 'Die Zeiten der Freundschaft in den Briefen Johannes von Müllers'
Presentation by Prof. Helmut Puff, University of Michigan, on 'Die Zeiten der Freundschaft in den Briefen Johannes von Müllers'

Presentation by Prof. Helmut Puff, University of Michigan, on 'Die Zeiten der Freundschaft in den Briefen Johannes von Müllers'

audience, person taking notes

Panel discussion with Prof. Helmut Puff and Prof. Horst Lange, moderated by Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut
Panel discussion with Prof. Helmut Puff and Prof. Horst Lange, moderated by Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut

Panel discussion with Prof. Helmut Puff and Prof. Horst Lange, moderated by Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut
Moderator Prof. Iulia-Karin Patrut

Panel discussion with Prof. Helmut Puff and Prof. Horst Lange

Presentation by Prof. Catriona MacLeod, University of Chicago, on 'The Albums of Adele Schopenhauer as Queer Erotic Spaces'
Presentation by Prof. Catriona MacLeod, University of Chicago, on 'The Albums of Adele Schopenhauer as Queer Erotic Spaces'

Presentation by Prof. Catriona MacLeod, University of Chicago, on 'The Albums of Adele Schopenhauer as Queer Erotic Spaces'

Presentation by Prof. Catriona MacLeod, University of Chicago, on 'The Albums of Adele Schopenhauer as Queer Erotic Spaces'

Presentation by Prof. Catriona MacLeod, University of Chicago, on 'The Albums of Adele Schopenhauer as Queer Erotic Spaces'

Presentation by Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, on 'Imaginierte Freundschaft. Bettina von Arnims Günderrode-Buch – neu gelesen'
Presentation by Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, on 'Imaginierte Freundschaft. Bettina von Arnims Günderrode-Buch – neu gelesen'

Presentation by Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, on 'Imaginierte Freundschaft. Bettina von Arnims Günderrode-Buch – neu gelesen'

Presentation by Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Freies Deutsches Hochstift, on 'Imaginierte Freundschaft. Bettina von Arnims Günderrode-Buch – neu gelesen'

Presentation by Prof. Imke Meyer, University of Illinois Chicago & College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on 'Homosociality in Adalbert Stifter’s "Bergmilch"'
Presentation by Prof. Imke Meyer, University of Illinois Chicago & College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on 'Homosociality in Adalbert Stifter’s "Bergmilch"'

Presentation by Prof. Imke Meyer, University of Illinois Chicago & College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on 'Homosociality in Adalbert Stifter’s "Bergmilch"'

Presentation by Prof. Imke Meyer, University of Illinois Chicago & College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on 'Homosociality in Adalbert Stifter’s "Bergmilch"'

Presentation by Prof. Imke Meyer, University of Illinois Chicago & College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on 'Homosociality in Adalbert Stifter’s "Bergmilch"'

Panel discussion with Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Prof. Catriona MacLeod and Prof. Imke Meyer
Panel discussion with Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Prof. Catriona MacLeod and Prof. Imke Meyer

Panel discussion with Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Prof. Catriona MacLeod and Prof. Imke Meyer

Panel discussion with Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Prof. Catriona MacLeod and Prof. Imke Meyer, moderated by Prof. Matthias Bauer, Europa-Universität Flensburg
Panel discussion with Prof. Wolfgang Bunzel, Prof. Catriona MacLeod and Prof. Imke Meyer, moderated by Prof. Matthias Bauer, Europa-Universität Flensburg

Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, introducing author Angela Steidele
Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, introducing author Angela Steidele

Author Dr Angela Steidele reading from her book 'Geschichte einer Liebe: Adele Schopenhauer und Sibylle Mertens'
Author Dr Angela Steidele reading from her book 'Geschichte einer Liebe: Adele Schopenhauer und Sibylle Mertens'

Author Dr Angela Steidele reading from her book 'Geschichte einer Liebe: Adele Schopenhauer und Sibylle Mertens'

Author Dr Angela Steidele reading from her book 'Geschichte einer Liebe: Adele Schopenhauer und Sibylle Mertens'

Author Dr Angela Steidele and moderator Prof. Sigrid Nieberle
Author Dr Angela Steidele and moderator Prof. Sigrid Nieberle

Author Dr Angela Steidele and moderator Prof. Sigrid Nieberle

Panel discussion with Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on their presentations about 'Female Homosociality and Its Erasure in the Epistolary Novel' and 'Die Sprache der Neigung und ihre Vertonungen'
Panel discussion with Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on their presentations about 'Female Homosociality and Its Erasure in the Epistolary Novel' and 'Die Sprache der Neigung und ihre Vertonungen'

Panel discussion with Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, College for Social Sciences and Humanities, on their presentations about 'Female Homosociality and Its Erasure in the Epistolary Novel' and 'Die Sprache der Neigung und ihre Vertonungen'

Panel discussion with Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, moderated by Prof. Nadjib Sadikou, Europa-Universität Flensburg
Panel discussion with Prof. Sigrid Nieberle, TU Dortmund University, and Prof. Heidi Schlipphacke, moderated by Prof. Nadjib Sadikou, Europa-Universität Flensburg

Presentation by Prof. Sophie Salvo, University of Chicago, on 'Women-Only Spaces and the Language of Sexuality'
Presentation by Prof. Sophie Salvo, University of Chicago, on 'Women-Only Spaces and the Language of Sexuality'

Presentation by Prof. Sophie Salvo, University of Chicago, on 'Women-Only Spaces and the Language of Sexuality'

Presentation by Prof. Sophie Salvo, University of Chicago, on 'Women-Only Spaces and the Language of Sexuality'

Presentation by Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck, Amherst College, on 'Frauenfeindschaften: Über Elfriede Jelineks Rivalinnen'
Presentation by Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck, Amherst College, on 'Frauenfeindschaften: Über Elfriede Jelineks Rivalinnen'

Presentation by Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck, Amherst College, on 'Frauenfeindschaften: Über Elfriede Jelineks Rivalinnen'

Presentation by Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck, Amherst College, on 'Frauenfeindschaften: Über Elfriede Jelineks Rivalinnen'

Panel discussion with Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck and Prof. Sophie Salvo
Panel discussion with Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck and Prof. Sophie Salvo

Panel discussion with Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck and Prof. Sophie Salvo

Panel discussion with Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck and Prof. Sophie Salvo

Panel discussion with Prof. Jonas Rosenbrueck and Prof. Sophie Salvo

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