Audio Drama Seminars by Dr. Uta Ackermann

The ability to recognize oneself in others is an essential prerequisite for interpersonal understanding—both within a monoethnic cultural sphere and in personal and societal relationships that extend beyond cultural and national boundaries. Especially in times of crisis and upheaval, when the tone of discourse becomes increasingly harsh, it is crucial not only to communicate and articulate precisely but also to actively listen. Respectful interaction challenges traditional hierarchies and power structures, leverages cultural differences as an “empowering boundary”¹, favors “subversive listening”² over divisive thought patterns, and thus counteracts societal fragmentation.

As an independent literary genre, the audio drama invites us to acoustically explore intercultural aspects of various conflict constellations and gain deeper insights into different perspectives. It enables what Friedrich Dürrenmatt described as “eavesdropping at a closed door without a keyhole”³. In the block seminar “Audio Visions: Intercultural Encounters in Audio Drama” by Dr. Uta Ackermann (audio drama author and poet), students in the 2024/25 Winter Semester not only explored auditory orientation through a historical range of audio dramas but also created their own short-form audio drama on the theme of intercultural understanding. Each participant contributed as an author, dramaturg, sound technician, voice actor, sound designer, and Foley artist. The result is this audio drama.