Southeastern European Studies/Romanian Studies: The Fascination and Variety of Southeastern Europe

The ethnic, cultural, religious and scenic multifaceted Southeastern Europe is a very pretty, exciting and varying region. It is characterised by a special charm, an incredible hospitality and kindness of the people, spectacular unforgettable landscapes, natural spectacles and architectural forms, by a wonderfully cultural, musical and culinary tradition and movingly sweeping history, many interesting languages, religious forms and ethnical groups as well as by a special creativity and mysticism. Every country on its own has its very special appealing sides.

The typical variety of Southeastern Europe has ambivalent sides too, though.  Unfortunately the region's image within the broad public is still shaped too much by the wars of the 1990s in Ex-Yugoslavia and their aftermath, poverty, refugee crisis, corruption, political instability etc. At this, many prejudices and distorted images were formed and the various positive and fascinating sides of the region have faded wrongfully into the background.

Those become easily accessible, however, if one's at least delves a little into the region, its people and its cultures. An intensive research and teaching to this is carried out by the division "Southeastern European Studies" at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena that conducts, with support of the "Society of Balkanologists" and the "Southeastern-Europe-Society", Cultural and Information Days (4 Dec 2029 to 6 Dec 2019) as well as a Photographic Exhibition about Southeastern Europe (4 Dec 2019 to 5 Mar 2020).

The division's lecturers and students like foreground the interesting and positive sides of Southeastern Europe by the means of these events and let the public participate in their passion for the Balkans. by doing so the ambivalent and complicated sides of this region will be incorporated too, of course – not at least because especially this mutual interaction with the pleasant and pretty aspects constitutes the  indescribable and interesting appeal of Southeastern Europe. At this, the Balkan's enormous diversity is only to be presented selectively and partially within the scope of limited possibilites.

Nonetheless they hope that the audience's curiostiy about the vast richness and beauty of this region, that only waits to be discovered and enjoyed by tourists from Middle and Western Europe, can be aroused.

The events in no way do address only some university-bound audience but especially the broad public from very young to very old. Accordingly the films, workshops and the concert are themed but the lectures are shaped as well.

Delve into a various, fascinating, interesting and enchanting world that offers something for every taste and that more than deserves it to be dealt with.