Programme Erasmus + Europe on the move : Migration Biographies
Theses
“ My friend asked me if it had been cathartic , to write my memoir . I looked down at the sculptures — it was cathartic for me to look at them , but I could imagine it might have been hell to make them ( I was cheered / when I came first to know / that there were flowers also / in hell ). No , I answered — how was it for you to read it ? Aristotle , in his Poetics , never promised catharsis for the makers of art , only for the audience .”
Nick Flynn
, The Reenactments .
In this thesis I aim to analyse how people who have experienced the struggles that come along with migration , deal with them , whether passively or actively .
Therefore , I have challenged myself to find ways how to use creativity , more specifically creative writing , to overcome these struggles , or even traumata . Drawing from famous autobiographical work that is connected to our seminars subject matter , I will first analyse how just writing about one ’ s experiences , e . g journaling can be of use . But then also how reading these autobiographies can have a great positive impact .
Through empathising with the characters , and finding yourself immersed in the story , it ' s possible for an openhearted reader to go through the same cleansing process that the writer has gone through in the making of his autobiographical work . This Concept goes back to ancient Greek drama theory . The Greek word catharsis meaning “ cleansing ”, defines the purification of emotions through art . The next step will be to prove all that with actual psychological theorems . Here there will be a great focus on actual common methods for migrants struggling with their past today , and what common ways are applied or offered to them .
Together with my friend and writer Lisa Yarger I will further explain her journey of voluntarily migrating to Germany , and the effort she makes to help others with her creative writing workshops . So in conclusion I will attempt to give a broad overview that might inspire to create more diverse support for migrants , a future where they can overcome their personal struggles and use this newly gained energy to build a new life .
Racism used to be embedded into the minds of German citizens . Foreign people used to suffer greatly in times of National Socialism , but times have changed . A more liberal way of thinking was brought to Germany by the Allies .
But in our modern society , decades after all of this , there are still leftovers of this racist way of thinking . In my essay I want to look more into this mindset , find out if it still is a great problem and how it affects the lives of different people .
Therefore , I am interviewing an immigrant coming from Ghana , asking her about her own experiences , how she is being influenced by racism and what kind of gravity it displays in her life .
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