Forgotten DDR Philosophers: Wolfgang Heise's Critical Marxist Circle at Humboldt University
A group of unorthodox Marxist intellectuals around philosopher Wolfgang Heise operated a refuge for critical thinkers at Berlin's Humboldt University from 1968. In June 1969, the newly founded 'Section for Aesthetics and Art Sciences' held its first working conference at Schloss Wiepersdorf in Brandenburg, the former estate of the von Arnim writer family. Heise reported to his wife, Romance scholar and Benjamin editor Rosemarie Heise, that his concept was well received and there were mushrooms. He noted a new requirement to prepare a research project on 'the system of arts in the developed system' of socialism, aiming to develop Walter Benjamin's reproducibility essay for the present day. The article appears in the current issue of Der Freitag.
Key facts
- A group of unorthodox Marxist intellectuals operated at Humboldt University from 1968.
- The group was centered around philosopher Wolfgang Heise.
- In June 1969, the 'Section for Aesthetics and Art Sciences' held its first working conference at Schloss Wiepersdorf.
- Schloss Wiepersdorf was the former estate of the von Arnim writer family.
- Wolfgang Heise reported to his wife Rosemarie Heise that his concept was well received.
- Heise was required to prepare a research project on 'the system of arts in the developed system' of socialism.
- The project aimed to develop Walter Benjamin's reproducibility essay for the present day.
- The article is published in the current issue of Der Freitag.
Entities
Artists
- Wolfgang Heise
- Rosemarie Heise
- Walter Benjamin
Institutions
- Humboldt-Universität Berlin
- Der Freitag
- Schloss Wiepersdorf
Locations
- Berlin
- Germany
- Brandenburg
- Schloss Wiepersdorf