Sławomir Wieczorek | Sounds of horror. The soundscape of Wrocław in 1945

12.06.2019

lecture

The memory of Festung Breslau and the time right after its fall is saven in the photographs most of all. But scenes depicted on them don’t fully represent the atmosphere of horror, which accompanied those timed. The sounds that reverbated through Wrocław were important as well, or maybe even more.

The sounds of beating into the metal and tinny household goods, like pots and lids, were really specific for the city in that period. The most often they were accompanied by the screams Hilfe, which were used by the German habitants, endangered to being attacked in their own houses, to call for help. The intensity of this phenomenon was deepening the atmosphere of horror, which was penetrating every-day reality.

References about the reverbations of beating and screaming appears in the autobiographic stories of Poles who lives in Wrocław in those first months after the fall of Festung Breslau. Sławomir Wieczorek, PhD in art studies, graduate of cultural studies and musicology in University of Wrocław, have analized that content in his work named Calling for help and the sounds of beating into the pots in the soundscape of ruined Wrocław in 1945, which has been published in “Audiosfera. Koncepcje-badania-praktyki” journal.

12th of June at 6:30pm to 7:30pm in Salon Herz of OP ENHEIM Sławomir Wieczorek will tell about his studies on the topic above in his lecture named Sounds of horror. The soundscape of Wrocław in 1945.

If you would like to join the lecture, please contact us at: visit@openheim.org

This event is a part of Echoes of Wrocław – Anka Kasperska’s artist residency.

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Sławomir Wieczorek

Sławomir Wieczorek is PhD in art studies, who is a graduate of cultural studies and musicology in the University of Wrocław. Among his interest are: history of music from XX century, contemporary music, historic soundscapes, sound studies perspective and cultural musicology. Member of editoral office of “Res Facta Nova” and “Audiosfera. Koncepcje-badania-praktyki”. He is also cooperating with Soundscape Studies Studio, Company of Witold Lutosławski and Musica Electronica Nova festival.

The project is carried out in cooperation with Culture Zone Wrocław as part of the AIR Wro programme.

Partners: Hotel Monopol, Galeria Foto Gen/OKIS

Media partner: Glissando