WHEN SCHNITZLER ARGUED WITH THE CHANCELLOR

Herbert Lackner and Heinz Fischer in dialogue

WHEN SCHNITZLER ARGUED WITH THE CHANCELLOR
Art in the field of tension between freedom - politics - audience

How right-wing extremists vandalised the Vienna Kammerspiele because of Schnitzler's „Reigen“ - why the church organised penitential services because of a visit by Josephine Baker - why Austria's government cheered the burning of books in Germany in 1933 - how Stefan Zweig was expelled from Austria - which authors defected to the Nazis early on - who was responsible for the stuffy cultural climate of the post-war years - how Valie Export, Hermann Nitsch, Peter Turrini and many others had to fight for their work.
In his new book, Herbert Lackner describes the struggle of authors, musicians and artists for their freedom - a political cultural history of Austria.
At the first presentation in the Bruno Kreisky Forum, Herbert Lackner talks to Heinz Fischer about art in the field of tension between freedom, politics and the public.

Herbert Lackner, born in Vienna, studied political science and journalism, was deputy editor-in-chief of the „Arbeiter Zeitung” and then for 23 years editor-in-chief of the news magazine profile. He is the author of numerous articles on contemporary history in profile and Die Zeit. Most recently, his contemporary history bestsellers As the night descended, The flight of poets and thinkers, Return to the foreign homeland and Medicine and its enemies published by Carl Ueberreuter Verlag.  

Heinz Fischer, born in Graz, lawyer and political scientist, was Austrian Federal President for 12 years (2004-2016). Prior to this, he held various political offices: he was a member of the SPÖ in the National Council, Club Chairman, Science Minister and President of the Austrian National Council (1990-2002). He has been Co-Chair of the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens since 2018.

In co-operation with Carl Ueberreuter Verlag

Herbert Lackner:
When Schnitzler argued with the Chancellor. A political cultural history of Austria
Ueberreuter, September 2023, 208 pages, ISBN: 978-3-8000-7844-8, € 25,-