In this discussion between Nikita Dhawan and Tímea Junghaus, moderated by Mahret Ifeoma Kupka and Isabel Raabe, the central themes of the two speakers will be addressed and explored in greater depth. Scholar Nikita Dhawan spoke about the complex connections between the Enlightenment and German Orientalism and Art historian Tímea Junghaus explored how Roma culture and identity influenced the development of national characters, the idea of the artist, and the avant-garde.

This talk was part of the digital performative symposium UNEXPECTED LESSONS #3 which took a critical, decolonizing look at the ambivalent world of ideas of German Romantik, which as an artistic and political movement still has a great influence on notions of national/European identity and belonging.

Through talks, lectures, artistic interventions, film and music, the program addresses the question of how colonial and Romantic ideas are interrelated. We penetrate to the roots of today's Europe as a cultural space, look at enlightenment and anti-enlightenment, the history of Sinti and Roma, between romanization and othering, ask in which relationship colonialism and romanticism stand and talk about romantic love and power.