The subject of the third Allianz Lecture, held in Munich on May 14, was European identities and the role played by culture. Architect Rem Koolhaas and philosopher Peter Sloterdijk discussed narratives, depressive tendencies and influences from both west and east.
Allianz Kulturstiftung
Munich, May 18, 2006
Sloterdijk: "the continent in a relief depression"
At Munich's Residenz Theater last Sunday, the somewhat cryptic subtitle of the third Allianz Lecture, "Aesthetic Codes and Vital Stress," took on a whole new meaning, as moderator Thomas Steinfeld so aptly put it. As the graphics for Rem Koolhaas' presentation were delayed, he was forced to let his discussion partner philosopher Peter Sloterdijk start the ball rolling and then had to improvise somewhat.
Sloterdijk chose a psycho-political approach for his remarks on European identities, describing Europe as a "semi-depressive paradigm", an oversized coat that many Europeans have yet to grow into.
The continent is in a "relief depression" similar to the kind it is possible to fall into through doing absolutely nothing in the first week of the holidays, he said, only this particular one has been going on since the 1970s or 80s. Later in the discussion, Rem Koolhaas pointed out that there is in fact more than one Europe, and that the "new Europe" of accession states was most certainly not on holiday. The people there are working hard and brimming with energy, said Koolhaas.
Sloterdijk: People need myths
According to Sloterdijk, it is time we remembered the first of Europe's great mythological narratives, Vergil's the Aeneid, in which the hero Aeneas escapes from the fallen Troy and ultimately becomes the progenitor of the Romans. Sloterdijk sees Aeneas as the first European who came to the west having failed in the east, and was given an all-important second chance.
Over the years, said Sloterdijk, the USA has increasingly appropriated this myth, but Europe must reclaim it, for "Without the second chance myth, Europe will not be able to regenerate itself."
When asked why myths and narratives were so important, Sloterdijk replied, "We need to have inspiring stories because people always need something to help them overcome defeatism."
Koolhaas: "EU is blatantly successful"
Koolhaas: We can no longer save the world
Dutch architect and urban planner Rem Koolhaas also believes that narratives are important. "The EU is blatantly successful, but is unable to create a narrative of its own success," he remarked.
He reminded his listeners that geographically speaking, Europe and Asia are one continent, and said he was observing "feverish activity" in the east. "We cannot save the world anymore," he asserted, "the only people who can do that are the Chinese and the Indians, that's perfectly clear."