Anachronistic subjects revisited

Thomas Macho leads us through a fascinating philosophical discourse on the boundaries of fairness. On one hand it is said that “all humans are equal”, but on the other, “life is unfair”. Illnesses, disabilities, shortened life spans and causes of death constantly challenge the sociopolitical ideal of equality. What use are comp time, governmental child support and pensions, insurances and building loan agreements if some people die as children while others live to be one hundred years – perhaps even wealthy and full of happiness? The well-known philosopher investigates this and further questions in a world that may be familiar with the term “justice”, but faces a different reality. He questions the solidarity of humans, the base of democracy, and embarks on a search for answers and new paths.

Welcome to the vale of tears. A referee explains his view on the world before going out on the field to blow the whistle in the finals. His finals.

The great satirist Thomas Brussig slips into the role of a referee and reflects on life. How does it feel to get booed by 80,000 people? How does it feel to be surrounded by liars, dodgers and cheaters who look innocent in one second and suffer in the next, just as tactics require it in the 90 minutes of a game? How does it feel to catch attention by making mistakes only (for only wrong decisions spur discussions)? The tragedy of the impartial is that he has to stay neutral in a world where passion is contagious, and remain an amateur among highly paid professionals. And why exactly are referees expected to be just, when nobody believes in justice anyway? This book by Thomas Brussig is the first of a new series by Residenz Verlag: A Litany.

Österreich-Schwerpunkt auf der Leipziger Buchmesse 2023.

Formbewusstsein, Vielstimmigkeit und eine unbedingte Zeitgenossenschaft kennzeichnen die österreichische Literatur der letzten 50 Jahre – von Thomas Bernhard über Friederike Mayröcker bis zu Clemens J. Setz. Dieser Band stellt wichtige Autor*innen vor und zeichnet die Entstehungsgeschichten von Texten nach. Alltagsobjekte und Fundstücke können Ausgangspunkte für literarisches Schreiben sein. Manuskriptblätter, persönliche Schreibgegenstände, Notizbücher und Fotografien machen die zentralen Themen und Motive der österreichischen Literatur seit den 1970er-Jahren anschaulich: die Auseinandersetzung mit dem Eigenen und dem Fremden, mit Erinnerungskultur, Geschichtsvergessenheit und sozialen Umbrüchen ebenso wie das Experimentieren mit Formen, Medien und Genres.