Dr. Durán-Merk comes to us as a result of Pitt’s long-standing researcher exchange agreement with Universität Augsburg in Germany, where she is a research associate at the Institute for European Ethnology and Folklore. Her primary areas of interest include migration research, visual anthropology, the anthropology of consumption, and media studies, particularly regarding relations between German and Latin American cultures. Before moving to Germany, Dr. Durán-Merk worked for several years as a television producer and writer in Monterrey, Mexico and the U.S.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the EUCE/ESC and the Department of German are pleased to present a group of events to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall. Author of the book “Berlin Now: The City After the Wall”, Peter Schneider, who moved to Berlin in 1962 and witnessed the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, visits the University of Pittsburgh to share his experiences as keen observer of Berlin. His novel Der Mauerspringer (The Wall Jumper) was first published in 1983, and has become a classic. In it he describes life in the shadow of the Wall.

Charles Fourier (1772-1837) was neither gay nor bi. But he was indeed ‘prosaphian’. That means he enjoyed crossing both grammatical and sexual borders in order to build a New Amorous World (1816). We will sketch out some of the ways in which Fourier queers his socialist sexual utopia, such as creating new words and mixing assorted genres and genders, in order to create an at once joyous and ‘ambiguous’ utopia.

“Should Scotland be an independent country?” In a referendum scheduled for September 18th, voters in that country will have an opportunity to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on that very question. On Tuesday, Sepetember 23rd, the EUCE at Pitt will devote the first session of its award-winning Conversations on Europe virtual roundtable series to a discussion of the results of the referendum. What is the future of the Scottish National Party? How will this effect UK politics? What are the implications of the results for other nationalist movements in Europe and North America?

How strong is the bond between men united by the call to arms? Eight young Irishmen, thrown together for army training during the Great War, must move beyond the troubles between Protestant and Catholic as they prepare for the Battle of the Somme. Frank McGuinness' lyrical play captures the fierce friendship and loyalty among men who must face the wickedness and wastefulness of war. The effects of WWI, launched almost 100 years ago to the day, still haunt our headlines. This is a timeless story, appropriate for ages 12+.

The Turkish Nationality Room Committee is hosting a concert featuring the group NEOTOLIA, which will begin with a meet and greet reception with refreshments at 6 pm, followed by the concert at 6:30 pm. The proceeds of the concert will help fund the Turkish Room Summer Study Abroad Scholarship. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students, and additional donations to the scholarship fund will be accepted.

For the last decade there has been wide debate on European Union (EU) as a normative power actor in international politics. Visiting scholar Işık Kuşçu contributes to this debate by analyzing the impact of the EU in Kazakhstan in the field of human rights. As one of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has emerged as an actor with a desire to win the recognition of the West as a modern, progressive power in the region. While the EU`s engagement in Central Asia does not have a long history, it considers Kazakhstan an important partner in the region.

Mr. Laurent Sierro has covered events in East and West Europe and the Middle East for ten years, most recently for the Swiss National News Agency. He will lead a discussion on the how changes in Europe and the nature of reporting have affected modern journalism.

Ruth Levin's concert is devoted to Yiddish art songs and poems written by Jewish poets from the Bukowina, Poland, Romania, and Russia. For the past ten years, Levin worked together with Alexei Belousov, a Russian-Jewish classical guitar concert artist in order to create a special program.

Mark your calendars! The EUCE/ESC invites students, faculty, and friends of the Center to join us at our opening reception in 4130 Posvar Hall. Learn about this year’s full schedule of events, new courses, faculty and students, and meet this year’s visitors while enjoying some light refreshments.