Rethinking illness: Lecture by Franz Schuh at Wien Modern 2025!

Rethinking illness: Lecture by Franz Schuh at Wien Modern 2025!

Preparations for an exciting event as part of Wien Modern 2025 are in full swing. On November 16, 2025, the Sirene Opera Theater will be dedicated to The Great Learning LIMITS. SCIENCE. as a guest. The curators Isabelle Gustorff and jury Everhartz cordially invite you to a special lecture entitled “Orpheus without the underworld. From the hospital hell”. The lecture will take place from 6:30 p.m. and, like all events in the series, is freely accessible.

The focus of the evening is Dr. phil. Franz Schuh, a well-known writer and critic who teaches at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna. With his intensive examination of illness and recovery, Schuh follows on from his personal work “Don't put the sand in your head,” which he wrote together with an essay about surviving a serious illness. He is concerned with the difficult social definitions and perceptions of illness.

Rethink illness

In his lecture, Schuh addresses the different understandings of illness that are reflected in the termsdisease,illnessandsicknessreflect. While the first and last forms are socially recognized, the subjective experience of illness is often less appreciated. An unreflective approach to these topics in medicine and society makes life more difficult for many sick people. Schuh calls for a new approach and new approaches in order to better reflect the complexity and finitude of illness and to develop coping strategies for those affected. A central aspect of the lecture is the need to address these topics in medical education and to discuss them appropriately.

Dr. Schuh, born in 1947 and born in Vienna, studied philosophy and literature at the University of Vienna and often incorporates generous ironic and skeptical tones into his works. With his many years of experience as a lecturer at the Institute of Philosophy and in the literary scene, he is an established voice who offers valuable perspectives on society and illness.

A look into the future

This event at Wien Modern hopes to raise awareness of the complex facets of the disease and provide a space for discussion. This type of reflective exchange can help to not only expand understanding of illness, but also show how individual experiences can be released from isolation.

For anyone interested, this evening's program will not only be an intellectual enrichment, but also an opportunity to engage with one's own perception as part of a communal and often challenging experience. It will be exciting to see what new findings will be presented this evening.

Visit the website of MyDistrict for more information about the event and other event highlights in Vienna!