Identity and memory in literature as aspects for reflection on the past

Aiming to reveal the role of literature in the field of dealing with the past, the activity of the second day of "Memory Days 2018" was held at the "Europe House". Authors invited by the Institute for Democracy Media and Culture (IDMC) and Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), Dr. Karsten Dümmel and Dr. Albert P. Nikolla, showed other aspects of communism, through the parts of their works and also through question-answers with those present in the activity.

Just as expected, the interest shown was high. Former persecuted, representatives of embassies, historians and many young people paid high attention to the views of two guests about the destruction of human identity from the dictatorial systems and the consequences that they face today in their respective societies, Germany or and Albania.

The topic of the activity focused on "Identity and Memory". For this part, Dr. Godole said in her greeting speech that "identity is created in an autobiographical process, combining memories and confessions that have accompanied our lives". 

While the representative of Europa House, Mr. Erol Akdag, in his greeting speech said that the people and politicians of a country should have common will to deal with the past.

Under the moderation of Dr. Godole, the importance of literature in the transmission of human experiences was emphasized. German author, Dr. Karsten Dümmel, who during the Communist era in East Germany was persecuted and imprisoned because of his critical point of view towards the system, provided information on Stasi's permanent surveillance experiences. He read parts from his novel "Strohblumenzeit", showing through the history of the relationship of two young people, more or less what Eastern Germany faced for 50 years under the dictatorial regime.

It was interesting to hear in this event that during his persecution Dr. Dümmel had asked to go outside East Germany 56 times until 1988, when he was "bought" by the Federal Republic. Dr. Dümmel said that an intervention from the outside was necessary for this process, because "you could address everyone to the papers, but it was difficult to enable this". He also emphasized that, as in the case of ordinary Albanians, he had also been unable to move, saying that in general "those who went abroad had political ties or were part of Stasi".

In the other discussion, the anthropologist Dr. Albert P. Nikolla talked about his book "The New Albanian Man". Dr. Nikolla spoke extensively of the aspects that shaped the man of the dictatorship. He said "the so-called "new man" had to be loyal to the Party and give life to the Party, he should not be indifferent, but to spy on, invent and be aggressive to the "old man". By reading parts from his book, Dr. Nikolla emphasized that through the creation of the "new man" the communists managed to eliminate the elites and nowadays could inherit a feature such as "the feeling of mistrust and fear".

Dr. Karsten Dümmel added that "the new man" in East Germany was also with fear and terror, the terror "that needed the power to hold power".