“The World Is Deep, and Deeper Than the Day Imagined.”
The seminar focuses on the topic of “Night.” Together, we will explore the phenomenon of night from as many perspectives as possible, including natural history and the natural sciences, cultural history, medicine and psychology, economics, technology, and the arts.
Particular attention will also be given to the participants' individual perspectives on the topic. Students will have the opportunity to incorporate their own experiences, interests, and research questions into the seminar, allowing these personal approaches to play a significant role in our discussions and explorations.
Ralf Lilienthal
Nicht beendetes Studium Philosophie, Geschichte und Slawistik an der Universität Bochum. Ausbildung zum biologisch-dynamischen Baumschulgärtner. Selbständiger Gartenbauunternehmer. Seit annähernd 40 Jahren verantwortlicher Gärtner der UW/H. Journalistische Arbeit für verschiedene Medien (Reportagen, Interviews, Essays, Feuilleton, Kolumnen, Fachartikel, Rezensionen und Fernsehbeiträge). Projektleiter bei diversen Kultur- und Gartenprojekten. Buchautor (Garten und Kinderbücher sowie ein Buch über die "Regionalwert AG").
Objectives & Competences
Focus 1: The place of night within the natural order: biological rhythms, chronobiology, and the interdependence of living organisms.
Focus 2: Representations of night in the visual arts, literature, and other forms of cultural expression.
Focus 3: The effects of night on the human person: its diverse influences on our psyche, physical well-being, socialization, and human experience as a whole.
Focus 4: Night-time professions, biographies shaped by the night, and the constraints and demands associated with living or working at night.