An espresso with ... Karin Felzmann
Karin Felzmann studied "Transnational Literary Studies" with a particular enthusiasm for films and screenwriting. Through her studies, she gained a profound understanding of cultures and intercultural collaboration. With this expertise, she is now responsible for public relations at the "ZFD Civil Peace Service" in the context of land conflicts in northern Uganda.
Why did you study at the University of Bremen?
What interested me most was the Transnational Literary Studies program: literature, film, and theater. I thought, Great, I can read books and watch movies — and that’s exactly what I got to do. Especially for my master’s thesis, I ended up watching around fifty Western movies.
The program description also mentioned the possibility of taking a screenwriting course, which I found really creative and immediately appealing.
However, the real gain was engaging with Transnational Studies, which has profoundly shaped my worldview. The core perspective here is that cultures are not closed entities but continuously influence one another — and both individuals and societies benefit from this exchange.
Were your expectations of the university fulfilled?
Even more so: Especially the people whom I studied with were amazing! Creative people with a keen eye for global affairs. Additionally, I had the chance to engage with postcolonial theories and gender studies, which has had a strong impact on my work now.
As everyone knows, Bremen is a wonderful place to live — especially because you can reach everything by bike.
What significance did you studies in Bremen have for your career path and later work?
I work for the Civil Peace Service in Uganda – a highly challenging job with many exciting but also tension-filled aspects. In development cooperation, cross-cutting issues such as gender justice and decolonization are becoming increasingly important, and I’m grateful to have a reference point for engaging with these topics. Before this, I lived in China as an expat and was reminded of key texts from my studies—particularly those on "in-between worlds" and theories of the "third space" in cultural negotiation. In my role within the peace service, I often see myself as a translator between German culture and the one I live in. At the same time, in every country I’ve lived in, I’ve learned so much—and I almost always find something (and someone) to laugh with.
What was the most formative aspect of your time at the University of Bremen?
We did a study trip to Algeria and filmed a documentary there together with filmmakers. Working together creatively with Algerians with my lacking French and lots of hand-and-foot communication taught me: shared action is sometimes more valuable for intercultural understanding than words.
What do you still associate with the University and the city of Bremen today?
A ugandan collegue of mine actually studied at the University of Bremen as well – that was a nice moment to reminisce.
What advice would you give to today’s students?
As a wise man and guru of screenwriting once said: Follow your bliss! (Joseph Campbell)