„Pizza UNMIK“ in Kosovo / „Pizza UNMIK“ në Kosovë
“Pizza UNMIK” in Kosovo / “Pizza UNMIK” në Kosovë – a letter exchange between Berlin and Pristina with Kathrin Röggla, Vjollca Krasniqi and Jeton Neziraj.
What role do international residents play in Kosovo? In what way does their presence influence everyday life in Kosovo? How do locals and internationals perceive one another? These and similar questions were pursued by Berlin-based author Kathrin Röggla by sending letters to Kosovo. She received answers from sociologist and philosopher Vjollca Krasniqi (Pristina University) and the playwright and director Jeton Neziraj (dramatic advisor, artistic director at Pristina's National Theater and Multimedia Center). Written from a locals' point of view, the pen pals’ letters reveal prejudices, they explain the difference between "Pizza UNMIK" and "Pizza Pristina" and report on how NGOs are "infiltrating" Kosovan society. While most people's impression of Kosovo is usually shaped by a mission or crisis management point of view, Kathrin Röggla was interested primarily in everyday life and how NGO activists structure their lives and work, which impact the people of Kosovo on a day-to-day basis. The result is a controversial letter exchange, which was read for the first time in the "Hotel Pristina" at the Berlin HAUS in June of 2009.
The three authors, who so far had only known each other through correspondence, met for the first time in Kosovo in September. Their texts were recited by two actors in the Albanian language as part of the "German Weeks" on 26 September 2009 at the old Hamam in Prizren and on 28 September 2009 at the Dodona Theater in Pristina. Following the reading, Kathrin Röggla, Vjollca Krasniqi and Jeton Neziraj continued the exchange of ideas in an open round of discussions that was moderated by journalist and author Halil Matoshi. The audience - made up of locals and internationals - participated actively in the discussion and debated the purpose of certain "missions". The correspondence came to be as part of the project "Hotel Pristina", organized by Berlin's Office of Cultural Affairs.
Sponsored by: Goethe-Institut Belgrade, Capital Cultural Fund Berlin
What role do international residents play in Kosovo? In what way does their presence influence everyday life in Kosovo? How do locals and internationals perceive one another? These and similar questions were pursued by Berlin-based author Kathrin Röggla by sending letters to Kosovo. She received answers from sociologist and philosopher Vjollca Krasniqi (Pristina University) and the playwright and director Jeton Neziraj (dramatic advisor, artistic director at Pristina's National Theater and Multimedia Center). Written from a locals' point of view, the pen pals’ letters reveal prejudices, they explain the difference between "Pizza UNMIK" and "Pizza Pristina" and report on how NGOs are "infiltrating" Kosovan society. While most people's impression of Kosovo is usually shaped by a mission or crisis management point of view, Kathrin Röggla was interested primarily in everyday life and how NGO activists structure their lives and work, which impact the people of Kosovo on a day-to-day basis. The result is a controversial letter exchange, which was read for the first time in the "Hotel Pristina" at the Berlin HAUS in June of 2009.
The three authors, who so far had only known each other through correspondence, met for the first time in Kosovo in September. Their texts were recited by two actors in the Albanian language as part of the "German Weeks" on 26 September 2009 at the old Hamam in Prizren and on 28 September 2009 at the Dodona Theater in Pristina. Following the reading, Kathrin Röggla, Vjollca Krasniqi and Jeton Neziraj continued the exchange of ideas in an open round of discussions that was moderated by journalist and author Halil Matoshi. The audience - made up of locals and internationals - participated actively in the discussion and debated the purpose of certain "missions". The correspondence came to be as part of the project "Hotel Pristina", organized by Berlin's Office of Cultural Affairs.
Sponsored by: Goethe-Institut Belgrade, Capital Cultural Fund Berlin