„Pony Show" (Germany premiere)

Description

Reading and moderated discussion
presented by Thalia Why is it that the renowned author and constitutional judge Juli Zeh is interested in a boulevard-worthy Loverboy story? And what makes this case far more interesting than its scandalous core? And why are we so interested in this book? Because the public — like author Juli Zeh — is interested in the story behind the story and in the question of whether court proceedings and/or their media discussion are capable of bringing the highest good, the TRUTH, to light. Because we all cling to the idea that there could be a truth as a life compass. The case constructed by Juli Zeh is as simple as it is straightforward: A married, successful businesswoman is caught with a gun and suspected of having murdered her twenty-five years younger employee and alleged lover: MURDER SUSPECT. The case goes to the Hamburg District Court and develops into a media event that divides public opinion: Aha, women act, once in positions of power, just as toxically as men? The legal process and the accompanying media coverage, which are supposed to serve the pursuit of truth, threaten to turn into the opposite, distort and conceal the truth. But what happens to our ethical compass if the truth does not come to light? What happens if the media, as the fourth estate in the state, bypasses the judiciary, conducts its own pursuit of truth, but in reality manipulates the very truth they hope to uncover? Thus, the judicial drama becomes a mirror of a society that, in times of fake news, struggles with its relationship to the TRUTH, to the non-negotiable core. That the judicial drama described by Juli Zeh is being tried in Hamburg, a city where a spectacular trial has been taking place publicly for over a year, is perhaps a coincidence, or maybe not... Juli Zeh is one of the most controversial and versatile authors of contemporary German literature, awarded numerous high literary prizes. But not only that: she is repeatedly engaged in social and political issues: whether it is questions of protecting citizens' rights against state interference (she doubts the legitimacy of biometric passports or fingerprints), or open letters about the Ukraine war (against supplying weapons to Ukraine). At the same time, she writes social panoramas about life in the East German provinces after reunification. The power of her literature was recently demonstrated at the renowned Leipzig Book Fair, where her novel "Unterleuten" was read during an 18-hour marathon. Juli Zeh holds a doctorate in law, is a constitutional judge, awarded numerous prizes, and is known for her novels "Unterleuten" (2016), "Leere Herzen" (2017), and "Über Menschen" (2021).

Highlights

• Germany premiere of Juli Zeh's "Pony Show"
• Reading and moderated discussion
• Thematization of truth and media

General Information

The event takes place at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg and features a reading and a moderated discussion with author Juli Zeh. It explores complex topics surrounding a scandalous murder suspicion and the role of the media in the pursuit of truth.

Location

Platz der Deutschen Einheit 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany

Hide Map

Loading map...

How to get there

Get Directions