Wladimir Kaminer
Encyclopedia
Wladimir Kaminer is a Russia
n-born German
short story writer, columnist, and disc jockey of Jewish origin.
Kaminer was born in Moscow
, and after initially training as an audio engineer
for theatre and radio, then studied dramaturgy
at the Moscow Institute of Theater. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall
, Kaminer emigrated
to Marzahn
, Berlin
, in 1990.
From the late 1990s onward Kaminer became a prime mover in Berlin's art and literature scenes, based at the reopened Kaffee Burger club. He holds regular readings at the cafe, and also contributes regularly to various German literary organs, particularly ZDF-Morgenmagazin. Kaminer also hosts a weekly radio show, called Wladimir's World, on Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
's (formerly Sender Freies Berlin
) RADIOmultikulti, a station aimed at immigrants in Germany. Kaminer also regularly DJs at his "Russendiskos", during which he exclusively plays music by Russian bands. These discos originally began at the Kaffee Burger, but now also occasionally tour Germany.
Though Russian
is his first language, Kaminer's entire literary output is in German
, and sometimes concerns the language contact
situation of Russian immigrants to Germany.
In 2006 he announced his intention to run for Mayor of Berlin in 2011. The final chapter of his 2007 book Ich bin kein Berliner was subtitled "My first speech as mayoral candidate" (Meine erste Rede als Bürgermeisterkandidat).
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n-born German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
short story writer, columnist, and disc jockey of Jewish origin.
Kaminer was born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and after initially training as an audio engineer
Audio engineering
An audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
for theatre and radio, then studied dramaturgy
Dramaturgy
Dramaturgy is the art of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. Dramaturgy is a distinct practice separate from play writing and directing, although a single individual may perform any combination of the three. Some dramatists combine writing and...
at the Moscow Institute of Theater. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
, Kaminer emigrated
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
to Marzahn
Marzahn
Marzahn is a locality within the borough of Marzahn-Hellersdorf in Berlin. Berlin's 2001 administrative reform led to the former boroughs of Marzahn and Hellersdorf fusing into a single new borough...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, in 1990.
From the late 1990s onward Kaminer became a prime mover in Berlin's art and literature scenes, based at the reopened Kaffee Burger club. He holds regular readings at the cafe, and also contributes regularly to various German literary organs, particularly ZDF-Morgenmagazin. Kaminer also hosts a weekly radio show, called Wladimir's World, on Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg is an institution under public law for the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, situated in Berlin and Potsdam...
's (formerly Sender Freies Berlin
Sender Freies Berlin
Sender Freies Berlin was the ARD public radio and television service for West Berlin from 1 June 1954 until 1990 and for Berlin as a whole from German reunification until 30 April 2003...
) RADIOmultikulti, a station aimed at immigrants in Germany. Kaminer also regularly DJs at his "Russendiskos", during which he exclusively plays music by Russian bands. These discos originally began at the Kaffee Burger, but now also occasionally tour Germany.
Though Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
is his first language, Kaminer's entire literary output is in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and sometimes concerns the language contact
German-Russian pidgin
A mixed language or pidgin that appears to have arisen in the early 1990s. It is sometimes known Deutschrussisch in German or Nemrus in Russian. Some speakers of the mixed language refer to it as Quelia...
situation of Russian immigrants to Germany.
In 2006 he announced his intention to run for Mayor of Berlin in 2011. The final chapter of his 2007 book Ich bin kein Berliner was subtitled "My first speech as mayoral candidate" (Meine erste Rede als Bürgermeisterkandidat).