Lecture Series
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Apocalypses
Lecture series of the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies and Centre for Modern and Contemporary Studies in the winter semester 2025/26
Climate catastrophes, wars, economic instability and the rise of anti-democratic forces - many historical developments are reported, written and spoken about in terms of impending doom. The idea of an end time is part of the cultural knowledge of many societies and can be used to interpret the here and now and to reflect on possible future scenarios.
The lecture series "Apocalypses" of the Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies sheds light on how people from the Middle Ages to the present day, from the former Soviet Union to the Caribbean and beyond, use apocalyptic patterns of interpretation to reflect on structures of meaning and reveal divine or worldly truths. The lectures from various disciplines open up a historically and geographically broad panorama of apocalyptic patterns of thought and action, inviting critical reflection and historical categorisation of current diagnoses.
| 14.10.2025 | Thomas Meier (Heidelberg) Apocalypse without end - the end of the world between fear and hope |
| 21.10.2025 | Johanna Buß (Würzburg) From cyclical world destruction to the rise of consciousness: The Indian world ages (yugas) with Aurobindo |
| 28.10.2025 | Stephan Kraft (Würzburg) Apocalypse without an after. The sorrows of the sylphs in Grimmelshausen's Simplicissimus Teutsch |
| 04.11.2025 | Christian Wehr (Würzburg) Apocalypse and globalisation. Columbus' messianic historical thinking. |
| 11.11.2025 | Matthias Flatscher (Würzburg) The Recurring Desire for the Apocalypse. Normative consequences of the experience of the spectral |
| 18.11.2025 | Damian Dombrowski (Würzburg) Fulfilment - Renewal - Destruction: Artistic Perspectives on the Apocalypse in the Early Middle Ages, Renaissance and Modernity |
| 25.11.2025 | Stephan Packard (Cologne) Postdigital Visions: Apocalyptics and the integrated in the new media society |
| 02.12.2025 | Laura Otto (Würzburg) Come to stay: Sargassum algae and the creeping apocalypse of the Caribbean |
| 09.12.2025 | Catrin Gersdorf (Würzburg) Los Angeles, or, The End of the World: America between Utopia and Apocalypse |
| 16.12.2025 | Gesine Drews-Sylla (Würzburg) A world in decline: Late Soviet visions of the end times |
| 13.01.2026 | Esme Winter-Froemel (Würzburg) Apocalypse of Language? Discourses on Italomania and Franglais in 16th and 20th century France |
| 20.01.2026 | Michelle Becka (Würzburg) (Christian) ethics in apocalyptic times? |
| 27.01.2026 | Klaus Ridder (Tübingen) 15 Signs before the Last Judgement: Apocalypticism in medieval short stories |
Time and place
The lecture series takes place on Tuesdays at 19:30 in lecture theatre 318 of the New University(Sanderring 2).
Registration is not necessary. Admission is free.
It is possible to take part in the lecture series online:
Link to the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 615 5298 2071
Password: 895072
Recognition for the degree programme
The lecture series can be credited towards your degree programme. Please note the information on crediting.
Organisation and contact
Prof. Dr Stephanie Catani
Chair of Modern German Literature I
Prof. Catrin Gersdorf
Chair of American English and American Literature and Culture
Prof. Dr Carlotta Posth
Junior Professorship for Medieval Comparative Literature
Prof. Dr Kirsten Sandrock
Chair of English Literature and Cultural Studies
