"Getting Confucius Right" Ian Buruma + Thomas E. Schmidt May 15, 2008

NEW YORK (April 24)— The Goethe-Institut New York, a branch of the Federal Republic of Germany’s global cultural institution, is pleased to announce the next event in its new series, “With God on Our Side,” designed to take aim at the heart of societal discourse on multiculturalism and national identity with provocative pairings of intellectuals, policymakers and authors this year. The third event, “Getting Confucius Right,” is Thursday, May 15th, at 7:30pm, and will feature London-based Asia expert, Ian Buruma, and Die Zeit commentator, Thomas E. Schmidt, discussing the concept of democracy such as it exists in Asia. Admission is free, and no reservations are required. The Goethe-Institut New York is located at 1014 Fifth Avenue (at 83rd Street) in New York; (212) 439-8700 or www.goethe.de/newyork.

Ian Buruma (www.ianburuma.com) was educated in Holland and Japan, where he studied history, Chinese literature, and Japanese cinema. In 1970s Tokyo, he acted in Kara Juro's Jokyo Gekijo and participated in Maro Akaji's butoh dancing company Dairakudakan, followed by a career in documentary filmmaking and photography. In the 1980s, he worked as a journalist, and spent much of his early writing career travelling and reporting from all over Asia. He now writes about a broad range of political and cultural subjects for major publications, most frequently for The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The New York Times, Corriere della Sera, The Financial Times, and The Guardian. He is currently Henry R. Luce Professor of Democracy, Human Rights, and Journalism at Bard College. He is the recipient of the 2008 international Erasmus Prize and the 2008 Shorenstein Journalism Award. His most recent book is Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance (Penguin USA), the winner of The Los Angeles Times Book Prize for the Best Current Interest Book.

Thomas E. Schmidt, formerly literary editor of Frankfurter Rundschau and cultural editor of Die Welt, is now cultural correspondent of Die ZEIT, the most widely read German weekly newspaper, in Berlin.

"Hot or cold conflicts between cultures, religions, lifestyles and value systems are a signature of the 21st century," notes Dr. Stephan Wackwitz, Program Director of the Goethe-Institut New York. 'With God on Our Side' aims at bringing together thinkers, politicians, activists from Europe and America to discuss these common concerns and to link our traditions of political thought as well as look towards the future."

“With God on Our Side: The Crisis of the Secular” brings together scholars and politicians from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss religion and multiculturalism at the Goethe-Institut New York. Previous speakers include Paul Berman, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, David M. Reimers, and Paul Scheffer.

The Goethe-Institut New York is a branch of the Federal Republic of Germany’s global cultural institute, established to promote the study of German and German culture abroad, encourage international cultural exchange, and provide information on Germany’s culture, society, and politics. At its uptown Fifth Avenue location, buzzworthy series include “What is Green Architecture?” and “KinoTalks” (new films and filmmakers). Downtown, Ludlow 38, created with Kunstverein Munchen, opened on February 8. For details on upcoming events and to join the mailing list, visit: goethe.de/newyork.

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Official Website: http://www.goethe.de/newyork