Name: Norbert Elias-Lecture: Christiane Solte-Gresser
Start: 2026-05-12T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-05-12T22:00:00+02:00
Location: Universität Bielefeld

An Evening Between Dream Research and Literary Theory

The Norbert Elias Lecture at the University of Bielefeld brings one of the most prominent voices in Comparative Literature to campus on May 12, 2026: Christiane Solte-Gresser will speak about dreams, reparation, and the narrative processing of the Holocaust. The series is named after Norbert Elias and understands literature, art, history, and politics as closely intertwined fields of thought. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/))

Literary Research with Social Impact

Christiane Solte-Gresser has been a professor of General and Comparative Literature at the University of Saarland since 2009, director of the Käte Hamburger College for Cultural Practices of Reparation since 2024, and chair of the DGAVL since 2023. Her research focuses on representations of dreams, everyday life, autobiography, and the question of how literature articulates difficult historical experiences. Her publications include among others, At the Edges of Life, Holocaust Dreams, and The World of Dreams. ([uni-saarland.de](https://www.uni-saarland.de/lehrstuhl/solte-gresser/lehrstuhl/leitung/zur-person.html))

The Lecture as an Intellectual Encounter

The talk on the evening of the lecture is titled Dreams and Reparation: Narrated Holocaust Dreams. According to the event flyer, Solte-Gresser examines how dream narratives serve as a means against silence and the reparative potential embedded in storytelling. This reading atmosphere offers a rare access to literary theory, memory work, and cultural discourse. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/Flyer-SoSe-2026.pdf))

Location, Space, and University Context

The event will take place at the University of Bielefeld in lecture hall X E0-001. The University specifies that the address for building X is Universitätsstraße 24, 33615 Bielefeld. The campus is accessible via the city rail line 4 to the University stop; parking facilities and mobility aids for accessibility are also available on campus. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/Flyer-SoSe-2026.pdf))

Why You Should Attend

For those who want to experience literature not just read, but in its cultural and scientific context, this evening promises a high density of thought. The lecture connects contemporary literature, dream poetics, and memory politics into a literary experience with academic precision and public relevance. It is not just a simple lecture, but an author encounter with a researcher who takes storytelling seriously as a form of understanding. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/Flyer-SoSe-2026.pdf))

Conclusion: This lecture is aimed at all who understand literature as a space for thought. Christiane Solte-Gresser offers an evening on May 12, 2026, that combines scientific depth, cultural sensitivity, and linguistic clarity. Anyone wanting to experience contemporary literary studies live should not miss this date in Bielefeld. ([uni-bielefeld.de](https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/linguistik-literaturwissenschaft/forschung/projekte/norbert-elias/aktuelles-progamm/Flyer-SoSe-2026.pdf))