The Word Expired When That World Awoke: A Special Exhibition on Karl Kraus and 20th Century History

This special exhibition explores the historical shifts of the 20th century, using the quote "The word expired when that world awoke" by Karl Kraus from 1933 as a focal point. It commemorates significant anniversaries such as 1918, 1933, and 1938, reflecting on the fates of individuals amidst political and societal changes.

This special exhibition, titled "The word expired when that world awoke (Karl Kraus, 1933)," delves into the symbolic nature of historical anniversaries that marked significant shifts in the 20th century. It uses the poignant quote from Karl Kraus's _Die Fackel_ to frame a reflection on the periods surrounding 1918, 1933, and 1938. These years represent critical junctures: the centenary of the First World War's end, Austria's First Republic and women's suffrage; eighty-five years since the end of Austria’s first democratic Republic, book burnings, and the persecution of Jews; and eighty years since the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany and the November pogroms, which ended Austria's role as a country of refuge. The exhibition highlights how these anniversaries underscore the inclusion and exclusion that determined political persecution and murder based on politics, religious confession, or "race." It draws a connection to the biographies of the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna’s teaching staff, serving as testament to these historical moments and the mutable identities within the twentieth century. The exhibition notes that what was understood as identity was itself dependent on evolving definitions of time and place, mirroring the mdw's own changes throughout this turbulent period.