Reading and Discussion
Jadilah Diri Sendiri! Collection of Nietzsche’s Aphorisms

Reading and discussion a collection of Friedrich Nietzsche's aphorisms from Book Jadilah Diri Sendiri, translated by Berthold Damshäuser.

31.08.2022
7 PM
Goethe-Institut Bandung

“I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.”

“Also sprach Zarathustra” (Nietzsche, 1883)

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) was also an extraordinary poet and wordsmith. This is evident in all of his philosophical works, not only in his poetic and philosophical masterpiece Thus Spoke Zarathustra (Also sprach Zarathustra). The core of Nietzsche’s “philosophy with a hammer” is the dissolution of all rigid thought patterns. This quality is apparent in the compact fusion of prose and poetry of his aphorisms—his single stand-alone thoughts, judgments, and bits of worldly wisdom. Known as an “aphoristic” philosopher, Nietzsche collected over 400 aphorisms in his work Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (often translated as The Joyful Wisdom or The Gay Science).
 
August 2022 will see Berthold Damshäuser’s publication of his collection of translations of Nietzsche into Indonesian entitled Jadilah Diri Sendiri! On the occasion of the publication, Goethe-Institut Indonesien invites you to three readings in Jakarta and Bandung followed by a discussion. Damshäuser piece will read excerpts from the 14 chapters of his collection, each of which is named after the main themes of the aphorisms; these include “The Human Being” (“Der Mensch”) , “Politics and Society” (“Politik und Gesellschaft”), and “Freedom” (“Freiheit”).
 
The reading at Goethe-Institut Bandung will be capped by a round table with Damshäuser, Dian Ekawati (Lecturer in German Literature at Universitas Padjadjaran), and Syarif Maulana (Lecturer in Philosophy at Universitas Katolik Parahyangan). They will discuss the contemporary reception and significance of Friedrich Nietzsche and his aphorisms in Indonesia. Agus R. Sarjono will moderate the discussion.

Berthold Damshäuser, lecturer at the Universtität Bonn, editor and translator for Indonesian-German language and literature. Involved in many Indonesian-German language and literature forums/associations.

Agus R. Sarjono, poet, essayist, playwright. He received Literary Award of Southeast Asian Literature Council Malaysia and the Sunthorn Phu Award of Thailand.

Dian Ekawati, lecturer in the German Literature Program, Faculty of Cultural Studies, Universitas Padjadjaran. She is interested in literature, theater, film, conversation analysis and intercultural communication.

Syarif Maulana is a lecturer in the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan. Initiator of various philosophy courses. Has published two books on the perspective of demotivation.