Old myths persist in modern society. “Man still lives everywhere in prehistory” (Ernst Bloch). Myths, both archaic and those developed later, have been and continue to be utilised by various political forces in order to emotionally reinforce political concerns. National Socialism in particular developed an extensive, instrumentalised myth programme.
On September 2024 the “Salzkammergut myth” itself is the subject of a public dialogue. It is about the narratives that we associate with the landscape of the Salzkammergut, its magic and its history – right through to “storytelling” and current images of tourism marketing. A conversation with the writer Barbara Frischmuth, the historian from Aussee Christian Dirninger and the journalist, literature and Salzkammergut connoisseur Anton Thuswaldner, combined with text examples and quotations, framed by the special power of music from this region.
“Mythen Power”, coordinated and supervised by Michael Benaglio, is about a constructive-critical approach to “myths” and their differentiated reception in historical and contemporary contexts. The power and influence of myths – from general social to regional aspects – is brought to the stage, presented and reflected upon in multiple ways – both academically and artistically.
More about the project at salzkammergut-2024.at
