In the City of Goethe

I was in Frankfurt early this month. The city gave birth to the great German, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. I was there to participate in a conference at Goethe University. The Fourth Global International Studies Conference was organized by the World International Studies Committee. For the first time, I came across many participants from the global south in an international conference. My visit was not only to the first to the city, but also to the continental Europe. I visited couple of times to UK for academic purposes, but never to the mainland.

I was staying in front of the central rail station, on the Melstrebe Street. Part of the street is a red light area. It is, hence, no surprise that ladies and male agents draw your attention and call you to their bars. But there was no compulsion. I thought it is their profession and I guess it is approved under the law. The profession, perhaps one of the oldest in human civilization, has its demand because there are clients for it.

Walking on the Main river bank is a pleasant experience. Colorful ferries carrying tourists on the heart of the river, ducks walking without getting disturbed by the walkers and joggers and cyclists, and couples, boys and girls sitting on the benches provides homely atmosphere. While walking to the Stradel museum by crossing the bridge on the river I came across many kinds of people, cyclists, joggers and also a person playing guitar on the bridge for money.

I liked the Stradel museum. It is an art museum. The first hall captivates the visitors with a painting of Goethe during the Roman campaign in 1786. I took a snap, and requested the guard to take a snap of the philosopher with me. Goethe is separated from me in centuries in terms of our physical presence but I did not find it odd in imagining he is with me. It was quite an experience to be in the presence of this great German, a versatile personality and contributor to many branches of knowledge. Another painting I liked is that of St. Jerome sleeping on a lion. The painting displays the courage of the Saint and also his benevolence. The painter was careful to paint the dart on the Saint’s feet. However, it is the modern arts, the arts of late 20^th century and early 21^st century, remained obscure for me for most part.

I visited two other museums – the History museum on the bank of the river and Schirn museum. I am a lover of museums as they are storehouses of knowledge about our past. The paintings and other silent objects say many things. The History museum was fascinating. The location of the museum is historic as part of it is located on the remnants of an old empire palace, built some thousand years ago. Huge stones were cut inside to make drain pipes. The location of Schirn museum and History museum is in the old city area; hence one can find lot of souvenirs to buy.

I visited two exhibitions at Schirn museum. The one I particularly liked is Paparazzi. This exhibition is thought provoking and also stimulating as it displays the photos of celebrities world wide in their actions which we otherwise did not have a chance to see. Some of the photos of Britney Spears, Jacqueline Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor and many other celebrities attracted the audiences. The nude photographs of Kennedy, one of which describes her how she was full of life when she was 43, drew many visitors. A reporter followed Kennedy consistently for two years to get these photographs. Another caption on Spears says paparazzi inspired her to sing the song ‘piece of me.’ There are photographs in which celebrities are hiding themselves under the roof of an umbrella, or smashing the shooting camera. It brings home the point the lives of celebrities are not private as they wish but are under continuous surveillance, whether by paparazzi or others.  

I liked the spirit of the people in the city. The public transport system is one of the reflections of the collaborative public spirit. Unlike in some other developed countries, when one has to scan the ticket before entering the station to board a train, there is no scanning system in Germany, or at least I did not come across. I traveled for four days in the city in trains and buses, but I did not scan my ticket even once, and no inspector came to check my ticket. I liked the spirit of the city, also reflected in high trust of authority on the people.