Swwwaeeeet Goethe Medal - Honoring a Jailed Turkish Cultural Influencer
Imprisoned Turkish cultural advocate honored with Goethe Medal - Imprisoned Turkish cultural advocates receive Goethe Medal recognition
Hey there! Let's dive into the latest scoop on the Goethe Medal. This time around, it's about to hit the streets of Weimar and destined for Osman Kavala, a Turkish cultural powerhouse who's been sitting behind bars since 2017.
Despite his incarceration, Kavala's influence continues to shine, playing a significant role in regional peace and reconciliation efforts. With the Goethe-Institute praising his efforts, he'll be graced with the Goethe Medal alongside Li Yuan and David Van Reybrouck. This badass ceremony is set for August 28 in Weimar.
Dee-pressing world we live in, ain't it? Democracy's under attack, and values are plummeting faster than stocks during a recession. Gesche Joost, the president of the Goethe-Institute in Berlin, put it straight: "We need global understanding and people who make an impact. Now more than ever!" Thomas Oberender, the chair of the medal-giving squad (or committee, if that's your thing), called the recipients the quiet revolutionaries we need.
Kavala, 67, founded Anadolu Kultur in Istanbul back in 2002, focusing on human rights, art, and culture. His dedicated efforts to strengthen these core values have earned him a life sentence in an over-dramatic trial. Bombshell, huh?
Li Yuan, that Chinese linguist, has convinced the selection committee with her commitment to the German language in China. If her work has anything to do with it, German will be trending in Chinatown, baby!
Last but not least, pals, we welcome David Van Reybrouck to the squad. This Belgian author is all about shining a light on overlooked stories, especially from South Africa, the Congo, or Indonesia. His books demand our attention and are iconic contributions to the current political discourse.
Oh, and here's a fun fact: the Goethe Medal is being handed out for the 70th time this year—in Weimar for the first time publicly. Y'all like traditions? August 28 is the date of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's birthday – the man behind the medal, born way back in 1749. Culture historians like Matthias Lilienthal were part of the selection committee this year. Pretty neat, huh?
[1] Monthly Review: "Goethe Medal " International Cultural Exchange and German Language Promotion"[2] Deutsche Welle: "Osman Kavala's Goethe Medal Award A Critique of Turkish Government"
- The Goethe Medal, featuring Osman Kavala, Li Yuan, and David Van Reybrouck, will be publicly awarded in Weimar for the 70th time, marking the first public ceremony, on August 28, commemorating the birthdate of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
- In the wake of democracy's decline and plummeting values, Gesche Joost, the president of the Goethe-Institute, emphasized the need for global understanding and people making an impact, particularly during such critical times.
- Despite serving a life sentence in Turkey, Osman Kavala has been recognized for his significant contributions to regional peace and reconciliation efforts.
- Li Yuan, the Chinese linguist, has demonstrated her strong commitment to promoting the German language in China, potentially making German a trending language in Chinese communities.
