4 DW-Akademie
German-American relations: A portrait of Steven Bloom
Januar 2011 International Media Studies
by Amalia OGANJANYAN
“As a writer I don’t have to tell the truth: my only responsibility is to be interesting!”
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onday. 9.00. Small lecture room of the University of Heidelberg. Professor Steven Bloom is buried in a heap of paper, up to his ears in preparations. He looks like a student diligently using his last minutes before a big exam. A final glimpse at his watch – and the class begins. Today Steven will guide his students through the history of America’s wars.
Thirty minutes are almost nothing if you have to cover the nuances of a complex political and historical topic like the one Steven has to present now. He juggles with facts, comparisons, quotes of Obama and Lincoln. But it’s still difficult to involve this young audience into discussion. Even humor doesn’t help. This annoys the professor, because he would like to reduce the distance, collaborate with his students and learn from them as well. He often thinks about his motherland, the USA, where students call their professors by first names and usually take active part in their classes.
STRANGE PROFESSION But what Steven finds even more annoying about teaching is the necessity of giving grades. “It’s so artificial! It’s impossible to be a fair judge. I would prefer just to write comments – for example what I liked or what I found superficial”, the professor says. Nevertheless, Steven Bloom has been teaching American studies since 1970 – in the US, Germany, Italy and Poland. And he never gets bored with it. “I read new things, try to think differently. Each class is like a performance with a certain amount of tension, but never a routine”, he explains and them confesses: “Teaching at university is a very strange profession: in order to be qualified for it you don’t need to know anything about teaching. It’s a profession of people who mostly like research and writing”. WRITING IDENTITY The class is over and Steven rushes back home to continue the work on his new book. He keeps impatiently looking at his watch. The only thing he wants
LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS
Favorite writers: J.Joyes, V.Nabokov, I.B.Singer, P.Roth Favorite music: Good one, like jazz, opera. Favorite holiday: I don’t need holidays. I have an easy life and work whenever I have a chance. Favorite time of a day: Early morning, I get up at 5.oo Are you a fatalist? I even don’t know, what destiny means. The only thing you can say about all people in a room is that they will die. The word you use more often: Yes. Can you live without writing? I would not want to.
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
Completely grey-haired, with his white moustache and beard, at first glance Steven Bloom resembles a sad Santa Claus. Once he starts talking with his audience, his large eyes light up and the Santa becomes young. His very American jeans and backpack make him look even younger.
to do right now is writing. Frage (Ask me a question). Steven Bloom likes to joke Steven says that he knows these that he lives behind his desk, characters well and likes them. not in Germany. Nonetheless, “I do hear their voices. However the town of Heidelberg, where I don’t lose the reality that it is he has spent half of his life and me controlling whatever they created most of his books, has do”, the writer adds. served as a nice backdrop for His favorite character is his writing. Big cities no longer Izzy – a young Polish Jew who inspire Steven, who was born fought in the World War II and and raised in New York. is constantly seeking personal Steven writes five hours a happiness. It was Steven’s day, but does not expect father, who served as a to get famous or rich prototype for Izzy. He STEVEN’S from his books. was a real Polish Jew, FAVORITE Once he finishes who immigrated a book, he to the US at the JEWISH JOKE automatically age of 10 and starts to later went to think of North Africa the next and Italy with A man is looking for one. “I’ll the US troops. something at the courtyard, He never told probably his friend asks him: run out his children What are you looking for? a n y t h i n g of time The man answers: before I’ve about his war run out of experience, - I lost my key. ideas”, says except for - Are you sure you lost it the writer the fact that here? laughing. He A m e r i c a n - No, I lost it on the realizes that cigarettes were road, but the light there is never the main currency here is better. a guarantee during that time. that his current novel will ever be DECISION FOR LIFE published. And even if it does see the light – there is no Neither Bloom’s father, nor guarantee that it will be sold. his mother have learned good The scene of his first English or received higher published novel No New Jokes education. The best position his is set in New York in 1949-50. Its father had ever had was that of characters are American Jews – a cleaning man at a post office. Archie Feinstein, Jack Goldfarb, Therefore Steven didn’t have a Meyer Woolf, Izzy and others. role model for education in his They discuss the Korean War, family. Since he played football anti-Semitism, baseball, religion in high school, he decided to get or women and try to reduce a degree in sports. However, the uncertainty in their lives by when he saw university teachers telling old Jewish jokes – which standing in front of an audience, happens to be the specialization talking about books, it seemed of professor Bloom. like a very pleasant occupation Two factors make Jewish to him. And the decision for life humor special, he explains: “It’s was made: he was to become a a social activity, crucial for such university teacher. a verbal culture as that of the Steven’s life as a writer Jews. And: in a hostile world, turned out to be tougher. Bloom where one cannot count on says that it is easier for him to God, jokes can help to feel a push a manuscript through a little better for a moment”. publisher in Germany than in The same humorous the US. But he still tries to sell characters inhabit Blooms his texts in America. “If you are second novel Stellt mir eine a writer, you have to be used to
Steven Bloom at a Christmas market
rejections and keep trying”, he admits.
the Discussion group of the DAI may enter now. This club has been run by Professor Bloom for MASTER OF DIALOGUE a quarter of a century. People of different ages, occupations and Bloom’s main weapon is his origins come here every week sense of humor. His speech is to practice their English and get interspersed with jokes. “The a chance to discuss topics like master of dialogue” – this “How patriotic should a citizen is how German newspapers be?” or “Is honesty the best called him in their literary policy?” reviews, praising his art of the “This man is from Taiwan, conversational ping-pong. But now he is a citizen of Steven is also a curious listener Germany”, Steven says as soon who eagerly asks questions as he sees the first visitor. “But and expresses lively interest in he complains that nobody every conversation. Maybe he is perceives him as a German”, collecting material for his future he adds. It is obvious that he books? knows quite a bit about the “As a writer I don’t lives of the people around him, have to tell the truth, my thanks to his inexhaustible only responsibility is to be attention and empathy. interesting”, he says. Well, some No trace of the restraint and people may definitely have to tension that professor Bloom beware. In autumn 2011 Steven revealed in the morning in Bloom is to release a book class. His face brightens up, he about the mayor of Heidelberg gesticulates freely and jokes and his wife. non-stop. “These people come here voluntarily. They have PRIVILEGED FOREIGNERS rich experience and unlike the students are very active in Thirty-five years ago he discussions. The only trouble followed his wife Sara, an here is to stop some of them opera singer, who came to talking”, Steven says all smiles. Heidelberg to find a job. White These evenings have become Americans are an important very privileged part of the foreigners in week for many White Germany, so the participants. Bloom couple “Our leader did not have a Americans Steven is great. problem with I’ve never that, Steven seen such an are privileged intelligent and recalls. And thanks to their entertaining English they person as him”, foreigners in could integrate says a nurse easily into their Theresa Hartl, new society. His who has been a Germany national identity member of the is not principal discussion group for him, Steven for 15 years. “We admits. The most vital to him are like a big family here”. is to be a writer, father and Literally, one may say. It teacher. was here in the DAI club that Steven’s daughter Zoe met her INTELLIGENT LEADER future husband Christoph. Will this story turn into the prose of Tuesday. 18.00. The library Steven Bloom? Well, that could of the German – American be at least one component Institute (DAI) closes for regular in the formula of his first admission. Only members of bestseller.
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Januar 2011 International Media Studies
German-American relations: A portrait of Steven Bloom
DW-Akademie 5
by Amalia OGANJANYAN
The third side STUDENTS PRESENT STEVEN
On the edge of serious and funny DANIEL BURNS, A STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND HISTORY
Daniel Burns
CLAUDIA SCHMIDT, A STUDENT OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, CULTURE AND LINGUISTIC
E
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
verything related to the US attracts her. Next year she is going to study in Kentucky for a year. She likes Steven’s style of lecturing, which in her opinion comes from Steven’s personality and the American way of teaching. “German professors are more serious, and Americans are more “light”. Steven constantly keeps changing between being serious and joking. This and the use of analogies, for example he compares wars with divorces, make his classes comprehensive and interesting”, Claudia says.
Claudia Schmidt
REFERENCE OF A COLLEGUE
Naficy: “Steven brings life into the group”
D
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
r. Mehdy Naficy, Library director of DAI is a colleague of Steven’s and knows him for 18 years. According to Naficy, Steven livens up discussions and is different from other leaders of the discussion group. “He has a peculiar New-York sense of humor and an astute mind. Steven is a knowledgeable and wise, dynamic and up-to-date person, always cooperative to his colleagues”, says Mehdy Naficy.
Mehdy Naficy
ABOUT DAI
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Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
cultural institution American House for everyone, later German-American Institute (DAI - DeutschAmerikanisches Institut), was founded in 1946 as a library. After the Second World War American troops returned home and left many books in Germany, which triggered the opening of English-language libraries in various German cities. This was financially supported by the American government. However since 1975 the American House has changed its name to
German-American Institute and is sponsored by German institutions. According to Mehdy Naficy, though the old generation is still faithful to the library and books, the total amount of readers has declined over years. Therefore DAI had to expand its competences and offers special consulting services for German students interested in exchange programs in the USA and other Englishspeaking countries. It also has a Language school and language tandempartnership. The social activities of the DAI include
discussion and video discussion groups, theater performance, literary readings, International women club. Besides, the institute is active in special events and programs for children, like a bilingual International Kindergarten, which proposes space for 100 children of 20 nations. “All these activities became crucial for us. There is a big interest among Germans towards the US. The country is especially in vogue by German students as a place to continue their education”, the library director says.
Steven (in the center) and his loyal co-disscussers arguing whether gossip is harmful
WHAT BOOKS SAY ABOUT THEIR AUTHOR
Ask me a question STELLT MIR EINE FRAGE … A Jew runs into a synagogue and calls: Jews, Jews, I know something, ask me a question... … A Jew is falling down from a mountainside, at the last moment he manages to grasp a bush where he can hold himself. While hanging he calls: - God, God, help me! Suddenly there resounds a voice from above: - If you trust in me, let go of the bush. - What? the Jew says. - I am the Lord, your God, the Creator of the Earth and Heaven. If you trust in me, let go of the bush. - Just a second, the Jew says. Is there anybody else whom I could talk to?... NO NEW JOKES … Not being born is best… but who is so lucky? Not one in a million... … You know, you stopped
to think about a lot of these jokes and you could end up pretty blue. The trick is not to think. The trick is to laugh without thinking. But I’d never do it. First, I’m too scared, and second, I’m still hoping something will happen and everything’ll be okay... … One Jew says to another Jew, I’m glad it was God who gave us the Ten Commandments. - Why is that? says the other Jew. - Because if they’d come from the government, we’d have to obey them... OFFENE EHE … Those like me will become writers at the end, because we don’t have a talent for something else...
REVIEWS
“The writing here is silent” Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
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he unusual novel (No New Jokes) asserts itself in a sweet, uncanny way in an accumulation of voices… A cogent and moving drama about a man who is terrifying decent in the fresh uncertainty of a new world… The writing here is salient, economic; the story is engaging, swift, real; the ethic quiet and huge”. Ron Carlson, Associated Writing Programs judge
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he strengthen of the novel lays in a random depiction of a milieu
CV EXTRACTS 1942 – born in Brooklyn, NY 1977 – moved to Heidelberg 1985 – first story published “Beating about the bush” 1990 – an interviewer for NPR (National Public Radio, USA) 1997 - Associated Writers Program (AWP) - Prize for Fiction 1997 – No New Jokes, a novel (in 2000 a German translation Immer dieselben Witze) 2000 – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) – Award for Creative Writing 2004 – Offene Ehe (Open marriage), collection of New York stories 2009 – Stellt mir eine Frage (Ask me a question), a novel Married, has two children. Zoe, 47, and David, 29
and impressive people. They would like to let go of the bush but they cannot do it. Where there is no God, they clutch to the last straw. Frankfurter Rundschau about Stellt mir eine Frage
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he polyphony of the book is first to be hearable by repeated reading, and this is one of the most lovely compliments a writer can ever receive“. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung about Stellt mir eine Frage
of
S teve n B l o o m Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
H
e has grown up with Americans, has had American friends and girlfriend, which is why Daniel chose Steven’s seminar. He assumes that the topic “Americans and War” is important for Germany because of its engagement in the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. “Besides, Americans themselves seem to be cooler than for example British. This also refers to Steven. He knows a lot and can bring his knowledge across in a very clear way. As a future teacher I try to learn from him how to present a topic. If you want to get in contact with him, you can talk to him, as I did today after class, and you will see: he is open for students”, Daniel says.