1/20/26
Tue,
19:30

What use is it to me?
How poetry and poetry criticism can have an impact beyond the poetry scene

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© zaesur poesiekritik

Please note: The event is held in German.

Poetry is difficult to commodify or to harness for ideological agendas. And yet, for many poets, having an impact on society beyond the individual reading experience is an important concern.

If poetry belongs on the nonfiction shelf, as Monika Rinck says, one might be able to learn something from it about certain factual questions. If it trains empathy, as many educational programs claim, it may be useful in social practice. As a seismograph, it can make societal changes negotiable before the media stages them in their heightened attention arenas. But is this really the case?

Does poetry have an impact beyond those already inclined toward it, reaching into wider societal areas? And what role does poetry criticism play in this, as a means of mediating poetry into a discursive public sphere?

Guests from various professional fields will discuss these questions together at the Haus für Poesie and share concrete examples of how poetry—or poetry through its criticism—has been insightful and helpful in their respective fields when facing problems and challenges—and where it has not. The discussion will be moderated by the poet, philosopher, and co-founder of zæsur. poesiekritik, Asmus Trautsch.

The audience is invited to participate in the discussion.

A joint event by zæsur. poesiekritik and Haus für Poesie. Funded by Capital Cultural Fund.