Weimar in the sign of satire: premiere of Vaca from Calderón

Weimar in the sign of satire: premiere of Vaca from Calderón

Weimar will witness a significant premiere this Sunday: "Vaca", a piece of the renowned Chilean director Guillermo Calderón, is brought to the stage. The special thing about this project is that it was only included in the art festival program in February this year, as part of the top-class accompanying events for the awarding of the Goethe medals. Calderón, as one of the most outstanding South American playwright of his generation, brings with "Vaca" a powerful insight into the current social discourses.

The decision to include “Vaca” to the art festival was influenced by a visit to a rehearsal during the festival in Santiago. Calderón describes the piece as a social and media satire that raises crucial questions about how people can get extreme views and behaviors unnoticed. He explains that the central concern of the piece is to show how people become fascists without noticing it ". This profound approach is reinforced by the exciting staging.

cultural links and cooperations

In order to perform “Vaca” in Weimar, close cooperation was required, since the financing by the art festival and the Goethe Institute alone was a challenge. Here a valuable cooperation with the fund came to the fore, which organizes its symposia weekend. In this context, "Vaca" is presented and offers an ideal scenic addition to the discourses that deal with the topic "The art of staying many". This weekend there are debates, lectures, performances and readings that stimulate and invite you to think.

Another important aspect of the event is the honor of Carmen Romero Quero, one of the winners of this year's Goethe Medal. Romero Quero is not only an important figure in the Chilean cultural scene, but also the founder of the "Teatro a Mil" foundation, which implements several projects by Calderón and one of the largest international theater festivals. Your work and that of your colleagues is proof of the lively and dynamic theater life in South America and the connections to European cultural events.

Invitation to argument

Visitors are invited to immerse yourself in the world of "Vaca" and to deal with the complex topics that the piece throws up. Rolf C. Hemke, director of the Weimar Art Festival, has emphasized how important this type of art projects for dialogue is about social issues. “Vaca” not only acts as a cultural event, but also as a platform to sensitize the audience to the current challenges of society.

The staging not only entertains the audience, but also stimulated to develop their own thoughts and to enter the discourse. The combination of captivating theater and socially critical content makes the performance of "Vaca" a unique experience that goes far beyond mere pleasure.

social relevance of "vaca". The topics treated in "Vaca" are not only of great social importance worldwide. In times when populism and extremism strengthen in many countries, the question of how people unconsciously tend to fascism, especially up to date.

The satire is a strong means of reflecting on social grievances, and Calderón uses this tool to encourage its audience to think. This type of art is particularly relevant in a historical context in which the assessment of society is influenced by external factors such as economic crises, political upheavals and social tensions.

Comparison to historical events

Similar social tensions and the role of art also existed in the Weimar Republic. Many artists of that time, such as Bertolt Brecht or Kurt Weill, addressed the political and social upheavals in their works that arose from economic instability after the First World War. Both epochs show how art can act as a mirror of society, with the question of the responsibility of artists and their influence on the sociopolitical climate.

The piece "Vaca" behaves Akin on this historical work, since it also shows the mechanisms and dynamics of power and manipulation. A clear difference compared to the Weimar Republic is the speed at which information is spread today, which is dramatically influenced by consumer habits and public perception.

background to Guillermo Calderón

Guillermo Calderón is not only a recognized director, but also a significant critic of Chilean society. His works often address the political upheavals in Chile after Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. Calderón's commitment to social issues becomes clear through its extensive work, which ranges from classic plays to experimental formats. In "Vaca" it combines various media and art forms to draw a comprehensive picture of the current social conditions.

Calderón's work is not only influential in Chile, but have also found recognition in the international theater scene. This is shown in cooperation with institutions such as the Goethe Institute that offer him a platform to spread his important social messages globally.

Current statistics and social trends

A survey by the Pew Research Center from 2022 shows that trust in democratic institutions decreases in many countries in the world. Around 40% of the respondents in a variety of countries stated that they could accept extreme or populist leadership style if he gives the impression of stabilizing the social order. These statistics underpin the relevance of Calderón's central theme in "Vaca": The creeping acceptance of extreme ideologies in society.

In addition, an increase in socially committed art has been recorded in recent years, with a clear focus on social justice and combating discrimination, which further underlines the relevance of "Vaca".

The critical examination of power structures and the distinction between fiction and reality in art offers incentive to reflect and is an important part of a democratic discourse.