Jumble of letters XXL!

It is obvious that the word – and the book industry, literature, the media and the (still?) remaining printing press – changes society! One may think of Sloterdijk, Frank Goosen or Cornelia Funke; the other of sub cultures such as poetry slams, blogs and BILD (German popular newspaper; translator's note). As widely as the book industry is fixed within society, as little it is mentioned nowadays when thinking of social move or even economic dynamics! This used to be different – and it is still like that in the Ruhr area!? This will be the focus at 2010LAB within the next weeks.

Not even the much acclaimed and highly dynamic games industry employs more people than the book industry within the Ruhr area – 8,900 employees for whom compulsory social insurance contributions must be paid within the so-called core area, and another 6.700 in the so-called supporting professions (e.g. media distribution companies) – a total amount of 15,600 compared to 14,400 employees within the games industry.  Or in other words: 30% of all employees of the creative industry Ruhr and 15% of all companies (1,500 companies) are "word-workers". Only the advertising industry counts more companies. Nobody expected this!

And dynamics? Negative! The industry’s turnover shrunk from €3.11 m to €2.85 m in the years between 2003 and 2007 while the games industry was able to almost double its turnover to €1.23 m. The comprehension is painful: The book industry is the sleeping and paralysed creative giant of the Ruhr area. Only film and music generate more revenue - even though they only employ 3,200 people each, they are considered impulse industries for revitalising cities; and all of that despite plummeting sales figures. Film attracts celebrities and economic strength; music clubs revitalise beat-up districts and stimulate international exchange – so much for the clichés that don't come without some truth.

And literature: Who is attracted by it? What does it stimulate – not taking into consideration the economic trend? And who are the creative among the literature industry within the Ruhr area anyway? Does writing books – or even print them – stand for creativity?

Those who think about literature come up with Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich right away. Gerd Herholz, a Germany-wide known icon in literature and considered-to-be main critic of Ruhr literature, gives his opinion; a Hermann Vaske interview “Michel Houellebeqc – Why are you creative?“ leads into the easy world of literature celebrities; films on Martin Suter, Frank Goosen and about SLAM2010; reports on LitCologne, the „Union der Helden“ (Union of Heroes; translator’s note) and Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre show the most diverse aspects of literature – it is indeed alive!

We don’t sing the superficial song of the digital threat for literature.  We – once again – believe that the best of the old and new technologies will complement each other. Thus, we introduce you to the world of Creative Commons and the copyright debate; we report from the Leipzig book fair; about Olaf Sundermeyer and Hennes Bender, and we draw 2 books by Holger Steffens "Hand gegen Koje".
Naturally, we will continue our series on the Creative Heads, Jazz within the Ruhr area or the European short film – in particular, we recommend our “Kulturtechniker”!

And now: literature “Glück auf!” (miner’s greeting; translator’s note)

Bernd Fesel
 

Photo: happyfranse