Can satire build bridges between communities, as well as between past and present? Anna Kollatz talks Julia Secklehner through Erst lachen, dann denken!/Laugh first, think later!, a recent exhibition of caricatures from the Ottoman Empire and Egypt, on display in Heidelberg.

Email: anna.kollatz@ori.uni-heidelberg.de

Anna is Professor of Islamic Studies at Heidelberg University.

In this conversation, recorded on 15 July 2025, Anna Kollatz introduces the ideas and concepts behind the exhibition Laugh first, think later!, held at the University Museum Heidelberg in 2025, curated by Anna and Veruschka Wagner. The exhibition featured a combination of enlarged reproductions, original artefacts, and translations, inviting viewers to connect with the art on a personal level. Born out of a collaborative project during the COVID pandemic, the exhibition showcased caricatures from the Ottoman Empire and Egypt, dating from the 1850s to the 1940s. Anna also touches on the logistical aspects of sourcing materials, underlining the importance of digital humanities — a large part of the caricatures displayed came from a digitisation project involving Arabic, Persian, and Ottoman Turkish satirical magazines.

VERUSCHKA WAGNER AND ANNA KOLLATZ READING SATIRICAL MAGAZINES IN THE EXHIBITION’S COFFEEHOUSE

Anna discusses the importance of using caricatures to engage audiences unfamiliar with Middle Eastern culture, emphasising humour and visual satire as tools for dialogue. The exhibition sought to explore the complexities of Middle Eastern culture within today’s multicultural society, especially in Germany, which has a diverse population with ties to the region. By presenting these caricatures, the exhibition aimed to build bridges between communities, highlighting shared histories, colonial legacies, and the universal language of humour. As Anna suggests, this focus on laughter and satire reminds us of shared qualities that can unite people across different backgrounds.

AL-FUKAHA VITRINE

For the exhibition blog, click here. To download the catalogue, edited by Anna Kollatz and Veruschka Wagner, click here.

Episode 80 – Subjects of Ridicule

INSTALLATION VIEW (C) STEFFEN FUCHS.

Podcasts are published by TLP for the purpose of encouraging informed debate on the legacies of the events surrounding the Lausanne Conference. The views expressed by participants do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TLP, its partners, convenors or members.