Stone Memories: Monarchy to Democracy in Brick and Mortar
Location
CSU Ballroom
Start Date
18-4-2016 2:00 PM
End Date
18-4-2016 3:30 PM
Student's Major
World Languages and Cultures
Student's College
Arts and Humanities
Mentor's Name
Nadja Krämer
Mentor's Department
World Languages and Cultures
Mentor's College
Arts and Humanities
Description
Sigmund Freud asserted, “Now let us make the fantastic supposition that Rome were not a human dwelling-place, but a mental entity with just as long and varied past history: that is, in which nothing once constructed had perished, and all the earlier stages of development had survived alongside the latest” (Civilization and Its Discontents). This suggests that buildings may come and go, but their existences have lasting social and political implications that reverberate into the present; even if other buildings have been constructed in their place. The epitome of this idea can be seen in the Palace of the Republic/Stadtschloss/Humboldt Forum in Berlin. The Stadtschloss (City Palace) was the seat of power of the Hohenzollern dynasty from the 15th century and served the monarchy until its downfall in 1918. During the time of the German Democratic Republic it was demolished in 1950 and the Palace of the Republic, or the East German Parliament, eventually replaced the palace. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Palace of the Republic was destroyed. A heated discussion ensued on what should stand now in its place. Eventually, it was settled to rebuild the Stadtschloss in almost the same manner; however, it will be a museum as well, named the Humboldt Forum. As a member of a faculty-led trip to Berlin, I will examine through firsthand experience the Humboldt Forum and how it shows that impressions from the past remain to this day in the present.
Stone Memories: Monarchy to Democracy in Brick and Mortar
CSU Ballroom
Sigmund Freud asserted, “Now let us make the fantastic supposition that Rome were not a human dwelling-place, but a mental entity with just as long and varied past history: that is, in which nothing once constructed had perished, and all the earlier stages of development had survived alongside the latest” (Civilization and Its Discontents). This suggests that buildings may come and go, but their existences have lasting social and political implications that reverberate into the present; even if other buildings have been constructed in their place. The epitome of this idea can be seen in the Palace of the Republic/Stadtschloss/Humboldt Forum in Berlin. The Stadtschloss (City Palace) was the seat of power of the Hohenzollern dynasty from the 15th century and served the monarchy until its downfall in 1918. During the time of the German Democratic Republic it was demolished in 1950 and the Palace of the Republic, or the East German Parliament, eventually replaced the palace. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Palace of the Republic was destroyed. A heated discussion ensued on what should stand now in its place. Eventually, it was settled to rebuild the Stadtschloss in almost the same manner; however, it will be a museum as well, named the Humboldt Forum. As a member of a faculty-led trip to Berlin, I will examine through firsthand experience the Humboldt Forum and how it shows that impressions from the past remain to this day in the present.
Recommended Citation
Nickel, Cody. "Stone Memories: Monarchy to Democracy in Brick and Mortar." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 18, 2016.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2016/poster-session-B/16
