The Power of Art

WHEN
15.06.2025
15:30 - 16:30

WHERE
Botanical Garden of the TU Dresden, behind Rainforest House I
Stübelallee 2, 01307 Dresden

You can find more information here.

The power of art: Sri Lanka's new beginning after 26 years of civil war, Prof. Dr. phil. habil. Stefan Horlacher

Even 16 years after the traumatic end of a long and bloody civil war (1983-2009), Sri Lanka is still struggling with the question of what a new, inclusive society could look like. While political dynasties are failing, art - be it literature, painting or street theater - is coming into focus as a space for new social narratives and visions. The specific question being examined here is whether and how art can create innovative concepts and blueprints for the (re)negotiation of national, ethnic and religious identities and pave the way for a more pluralistic society. The Aragalaya protest movement (2022) in particular shows that art is not only a mirror of society, but also has an often underestimated power to change political reality.

Stefan Horlacher has been Chair of English Literatures at TU Dresden since 2006. He studied at the Universities of Mannheim, Strathclyde (UK), Sorbonne IV (France) and Cornell (USA), was awarded the Habilitation Prize of the German Anglistics Association (2004) and has held visiting professorships in India, Sri Lanka, Poland, Italy, Malta and the USA. Horlacher has published more than 25 books and over 100 academic articles, encyclopedia contributions and reviews.

If required, a sign language interpreter can accompany the event. Please help us to support you and let us know up to two weeks before the event if you would like us to organize this. Thank you very much.

The event will take place behind the Regenwaldhaus I, the way there is signposted. It is not necessary to register for the event.

The event may be canceled in case of heavy rain.

This event is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Free State of Saxony as part of the "TUD in Dialogue" project within the framework of the Excellence Strategy of the Federal and State governments.