Culture and Diplomacy

Diplomats had multiple tasks: not only negotiating with the representatives of other states, but also mediating culture and knowledge, and not least elaborating reports on their observations of politics, society, and culture. Culture, according to the studies featured in this book, is defined as a complex sphere including aspects like systems of communication, literature, music, arts, education, and the creation of knowledge. This edition containing contributions from six conferences held in Vienna and Istanbul by the Don Juan Archiv Wien focuses on the complex diplomatic and cultural relations between the Ottoman Empire and Europe from the time of the early embassies to Istanbul up to 'Tanzimat'.

Reinhard Eisendle arbeitet am Don Juan Archiv Wien über die Geschichte des Theaters vom 17. bis zum 19. Jahrhundert: im Besonderen über das Vehältnis von Theater, Politik und Diplomatie, die Figur des Don Juan auf der internationalen Bühne sowie die Inszenierung des Serails im europäischen Theater. Er ist Mitherausgeber der Reihen 'Don Juan Studies' und 'Diplomatica', zweier neugegründeter Publikationsserien des Don Juan Archivs Wien.
Eisendle kuratierte auch etliche kultur- und theatergeschichtliche Ausstellungen, unter anderem die Ausstellungen 'Salieri sulle tracce di Mozart' 2004 im Mailänder Palazzo Reale anlässlich der Wiedereröffnung des Teatro alla Scala sowie 'Mozart. Experiment Aufklärung' 2006 in der Albertina Wien.
Als Dramaturg, vornehmlich des zeitgenössichen Theaters, ist Eisendle auch der theatralen Praxis verbunden - so erstellte er eine dramatische Fassung von Asl? Erdogans Roman 'Das Haus aus Stein', welche unter dem Titel 'Nicht einmal das Schweigen' im November 2019 in Graz uraufgeführt wurde.

Suna Suner, Dr.phil., theatre scholar, singer, stage artist. Born in Ankara, she studied Translation & Interpreting at Hacettepe University (B.A., 1996). Taught at Istanbul Bilgi University between the years 1996-2002 and in 2004 received her M.A. degree in Performing Arts from Middlesex University in London. Numerous stage works and productions in music, theatre and performance disciplines in Ankara (1990-1996), in Istanbul (1996-2002), in London (2003-2004) and in Vienna (since 2004). Since 2007 she has been a member of the Don Juan Archiv Wien's team, specialising in the history of theatre and diplomacy in the Ottoman-European context. Since 2008 she has co-directed and organized the Don Juan Archiv Wien's international symposia series 'Ottoman Empire & European Theatre'. In 2013 received her PhD from the Institute of Theatre, Film & Media Studies of the University of Vienna. Co-editor of Don Juan Archiv Wien's publication series Ottomania and Diplomatica.

Hans Ernst Weidinger (1949-2023), Gewerke, Dr. phil., studied law, classical languages, archeology, theatre studies and art history at Vienna University, and dance, voice and piano in Vienna and Prague. Since the 1970s he has dedicated himself to the history of Don Juan materials from its origins until the end of the 18th century. He founded the Don Juan Archiv Wien in the anniversary year 1987.