German poet Uwe Kolbe will present the final lecture in the Stephen F. Austin State University German Club speaker series, "Reflections on (Re)Unification, " commemorating 20 years of German political unity, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the Vera Dugas Liberal Arts North building, Room 142.
Kolbe will present "The Insight of Dissenters: Remarks on Freedom and Real Socialism in Germany." He will discuss his first-hand experience as a dissident artist living in East Berlin, the capitol city of the former German Democratic Republic.
On Thursday Nov. 18, at 7 p.m., Kolbe also will read selected poems from his many published volumes of poetry. While he reads in German, Dr. Scott Shattuck, director of the SFA School of Theatre, will read the English translation of each poem. While on campus, Kolbe also will visit selected classes in modern languages, English literature and creative writing.
A native of East Berlin, Kolbe grew up a mere 400-yards east of the Berlin Wall, an edifice that more than any other symbolized the Cold War. Early in his career, Kolbe developed his distinct poetic voice, and with one of his poems, "Born Into," he provided the phrase that refers to his generation of poets-the first generation literally born into the German Democratic Republic.
Kolbe has traveled and lectured widely. He has been writer-in-residence at numerous American colleges and universities, including The University of Texas at Austin, Oberlin College and Allegheny College. From 1997 to 2004, Kolbe directed the creative writing seminar at the University of Tübingen in Germany.
The event is sponsored by the SFA German Club with support from the Office of International Programs, Student Government Association and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.
The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, call SFA German Club sponsor, Dr. Louise Stoehr, at (936) 468-2167 or email lstoehr@sfasu.edu.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!