It’s summer holidays, you’re suppose to rest but yet you won’t miss the chance to learn about techno. If you are one of those passionated about the history, the impact and the role of techno in the development of Berlin, we suggest you to take a detour to German Capital. During its summer sessions and from the 20th to the 24th of July, the University of Arts in Berlin offers thematic courses on art, design, artistic management … and techno.
Each day will deal with a specific theme, based on written documents, videos but also meetings with local actors and visits to symbolic places. The first day will be devoted to the history of techno, including the documentary We Call It Techno! by Maren Sextro and Holger Wick, who is interested in the birth of Berlin techno, and the book Der Klang der Familie: Berlin, techno and the fall of the wall by Felix Denk and Sven van Thühlenn.
The second day will focus on the role of techno in the reunification of Berlin through a visit to the Archives of Young Cultures. This center was created in 1998 to overcome the lack of knowledge about young people and their cultural habits. It brings together flyers, magazines and newspapers as well as university theses, CDs and DVDs from all over the world, dealing with techno, punk, gay, skate …
The third day is in continuity with a study of the evolution of the genre in Berlin since the years 2000. That is to say the appearance of sub-genres like minimal, clichés on the public, artists or the places dedicated to the techno. But also about its economic impact: the sector would return 1 billion euros in revenue to the city each year, with one third of 11 million tourists come to party in the German capital. Part of the course will certainly be devoted to the new challenges clubs are nowadays facing, such as gentrification that generates a sharp rise in rents and jeopardizes epic clubs such as Watergate.
