4 DW-Akademie German-American relations: A portrait of Steven Bloom

Januar 2011 International Media Studies

by Amalia OGANJANYAN

“As a writer I don’t have to tell the truth:

my only responsibility is to be interesting!”
M
onday. 9.00. Small lecture room of the University
of Heidelberg. Professor Steven Bloom is buried
in a heap of paper, up to his ears in preparations.
He looks like a student diligently using his last minutes before
a big exam. A final glimpse at his watch – and the class begins.
Today Steven will guide his students through the history of
America’s wars.

Completely grey-haired, with his white moustache and

beard, at first glance Steven Bloom resembles a sad Santa
Claus. Once he starts talking with his audience, his large eyes
light up and the Santa becomes young. His very American jeans
and backpack make him look even younger.

Thirty minutes are almost nothing if you have to cover the

nuances of a complex political and historical topic like the one
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

Steven has to present now. He juggles with facts, comparisons,

quotes of Obama and Lincoln. But it’s still difficult to involve
this young audience into discussion. Even humor doesn’t help.
This annoys the professor, because he would like to reduce the
distance, collaborate with his students and learn from them as
well. He often thinks about his motherland, the USA, where
students call their professors by first names and usually take
active part in their classes. Steven Bloom at a Christmas market

STRANGE PROFESSION
But what Steven finds even
more annoying about teaching
is the necessity of giving grades.
“It’s so artificial! It’s impossible
to be a fair judge. I would
prefer just to write comments
– for example what I liked or
what I found superficial”, the
professor says.
Nevertheless, Steven Bloom
has been teaching American
studies since 1970 – in the US,
Germany, Italy and Poland. And
he never gets bored with it. “I
read new things, try to think
differently. Each class is like
a performance with a certain
amount of tension, but never
a routine”, he explains and
them confesses: “Teaching at
university is a very strange
profession: in order to be
qualified for it you don’t need
to know anything about
teaching. It’s a profession of
people who mostly like research
and writing”.
WRITING IDENTITY
The class is over and Steven
rushes back home to continue
the work on his new book. He
keeps impatiently looking at his
to do right now is writing. Frage (Ask me a question). rejections and keep trying”, he the Discussion group of the DAI
Steven Bloom likes to joke Steven says that he knows these admits. may enter now. This club has
that he lives behind his desk, characters well and likes them. been run by Professor Bloom for
not in Germany. Nonetheless, “I do hear their voices. However MASTER OF DIALOGUE a quarter of a century. People of
the town of Heidelberg, where I don’t lose the reality that it is different ages, occupations and
he has spent half of his life and me controlling whatever they Bloom’s main weapon is his origins come here every week
created most of his books, has do”, the writer adds. sense of humor. His speech is to practice their English and get
served as a nice backdrop for His favorite character is interspersed with jokes. “The a chance to discuss topics like
his writing. Big cities no longer Izzy – a young Polish Jew who master of dialogue” – this “How patriotic should a citizen
inspire Steven, who was born fought in the World War II and is how German newspapers be?” or “Is honesty the best
and raised in New York. is constantly seeking personal called him in their literary policy?”
Steven writes five hours a happiness. It was Steven’s reviews, praising his art of the “This man is from Taiwan,
day, but does not expect father, who served as a conversational ping-pong. But now he is a citizen of
to get famous or rich prototype for Izzy. He Steven is also a curious listener Germany”, Steven says as soon
from his books. STEVEN’S was a real Polish Jew, who eagerly asks questions as he sees the first visitor. “But
Once he finishes FAVORITE who immigrated and expresses lively interest in he complains that nobody
a book, he JEWISH JOKE to the US at the every conversation. Maybe he is perceives him as a German”,
automatically age of 10 and collecting material for his future he adds. It is obvious that he
starts to later went to books? knows quite a bit about the
think of North Africa “As a writer I don’t lives of the people around him,
the next and Italy with have to tell the truth, my thanks to his inexhaustible
A man is looking for
one. “I’ll the US troops. only responsibility is to be attention and empathy.
probably
something at the courtyard, He never told interesting”, he says. Well, some No trace of the restraint and
run out his friend asks him: his children people may definitely have to tension that professor Bloom
of time - What are you looking for? a n y t h i n g beware. In autumn 2011 Steven revealed in the morning in
before I’ve The man answers: about his war Bloom is to release a book class. His face brightens up, he
run out of - I lost my key. experience, about the mayor of Heidelberg gesticulates freely and jokes
ideas”, says - Are you sure you lost it except for and his wife. non-stop. “These people come
the writer here? the fact that here voluntarily. They have
laughing. He - No, I lost it on the A m e r i c a n PRIVILEGED FOREIGNERS rich experience and unlike
realizes that cigarettes were the students are very active in
road, but the light
there is never the main currency Thirty-five years ago he discussions. The only trouble
a guarantee
here is better. during that time. followed his wife Sara, an here is to stop some of them
that his current opera singer, who came to talking”, Steven says all smiles.
novel will ever be DECISION FOR LIFE Heidelberg to find a job. White These evenings have become
published. And even if Americans are an important

“
watch. The only thing he wants it does see the light – there is no Neither Bloom’s father, nor very privileged part of the
guarantee that it will be sold. his mother have learned good foreigners in White week for many
The scene of his first English or received higher Germany, so the participants.
LAST MINUTE QUESTIONS published novel No New Jokes education. The best position his Bloom couple “Our leader
is set in New York in 1949-50. Its father had ever had was that of did not have a Americans Steven is great.
characters are American Jews – a cleaning man at a post office. problem with I’ve never
Archie Feinstein, Jack Goldfarb, Therefore Steven didn’t have a that, Steven seen such an
Favorite writers: J.Joyes, Meyer Woolf, Izzy and others. role model for education in his recalls. And are privileged intelligent and
V.Nabokov, I.B.Singer, P.Roth They discuss the Korean War, family. Since he played football thanks to their entertaining
Favorite music: Good one, like anti-Semitism, baseball, religion in high school, he decided to get English they person as him”,
jazz, opera. or women and try to reduce a degree in sports. However, could integrate foreigners in says a nurse
Favorite holiday: I don’t need the uncertainty in their lives by when he saw university teachers easily into their Theresa Hartl,

holidays. I have an easy life
and work whenever I have a
chance.
Favorite time of a day: Early
morning, I get up at 5.oo
Are you a fatalist? I even don’t
know, what destiny means.
The only thing you can say
about all people in a room is
that they will die.
The word you use more often:
Yes.
Can you live without writing? I
would not want to.
telling old Jewish jokes – which
happens to be the specialization
of professor Bloom.
Two factors make Jewish
humor special, he explains: “It’s
a social activity, crucial for such
a verbal culture as that of the
Jews. And: in a hostile world,
where one cannot count on
God, jokes can help to feel a
little better for a moment”.
The same humorous
characters inhabit Blooms
second novel Stellt mir eine
standing in front of an audience,
talking about books, it seemed
like a very pleasant occupation
to him. And the decision for life
was made: he was to become a
university teacher.
Steven’s life as a writer
turned out to be tougher. Bloom
says that it is easier for him to
push a manuscript through a
publisher in Germany than in
the US. But he still tries to sell
his texts in America. “If you are
a writer, you have to be used to
new society. His
national identity Germany
is not principal
for him, Steven
admits. The most vital to him
is to be a writer, father and
teacher.
INTELLIGENT LEADER
Tuesday. 18.00. The library
of the German – American
Institute (DAI) closes for regular in the formula of his first
admission. Only members of
”
who has been a
member of the
discussion group
for 15 years. “We
are like a big family here”.
Literally, one may say. It
was here in the DAI club that
Steven’s daughter Zoe met her
future husband Christoph. Will
this story turn into the prose of
Steven Bloom? Well, that could
be at least one component
bestseller.
 Januar 2011 International Media Studies German-American relations: A portrait of Steven Bloom DW-Akademie 5

by Amalia OGANJANYAN

The third side

STUDENTS PRESENT STEVEN

On the edge of serious and funny

DANIEL BURNS, A STUDENT OF ENGLISH AND HISTORY

H
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

e has grown up with Americans, has had American friends

and girlfriend, which is why Daniel chose Steven’s seminar.
He assumes that the topic “Americans and War” is important WHAT BOOKS SAY ABOUT THEIR AUTHOR
for Germany because of its engagement in the military operations
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“Besides, Americans themselves seem to be cooler than for Ask me a question
example British. This also refers to Steven. He knows a lot and can
bring his knowledge across in a very clear way. As a future teacher STELLT MIR EINE FRAGE to think about a lot of these
I try to learn from him how to present a topic. If you want to get … A Jew runs into a synagogue jokes and you could end up
Daniel Burns in contact with him, you can talk to him, as I did today after class, and calls: Jews, Jews, I know pretty blue. The trick is not
and you will see: he is open for students”, Daniel says. something, ask me a question... to think. The trick is to laugh
without thinking. But I’d never
CLAUDIA SCHMIDT, A STUDENT OF ENGLISH … A Jew is falling down from do it. First, I’m too scared,
LITERATURE, CULTURE AND LINGUISTIC a mountainside, at the last and second, I’m still hoping
moment he manages to grasp something will happen and

E
verything related to the US attracts her. Next a bush where he can hold everything’ll be okay...
year she is going to study in Kentucky for a

Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

himself. While hanging he calls:
year. She likes Steven’s style of lecturing, which - God, God, help me! Suddenly
in her opinion comes from Steven’s personality and there resounds a voice from
the American way of teaching. above: - If you trust in me, let
“German professors are more serious, and go of the bush. - What? the Jew
Americans are more “light”. Steven constantly keeps says. - I am the Lord, your God,
changing between being serious and joking. This and the Creator of the Earth and
the use of analogies, for example he compares wars Heaven. If you trust in me, let
with divorces, make his classes comprehensive and go of the bush. - Just a second,
interesting”, Claudia says. Claudia Schmidt the Jew says. Is there anybody
else whom I could talk to?...
REFERENCE OF A COLLEGUE
NO NEW JOKES
… One Jew says to another
Jew, I’m glad it was God
who gave us the Ten
Commandments.
- Why is that? says the other
Jew.
- Because if they’d come from
the government, we’d have to
obey them...
OFFENE EHE
… Those like me will become

Naficy: “Steven brings life into the group” … Not being born is best… but
who is so lucky? Not one in a
writers at the end, because
we don’t have a talent for

D
million... something else...
r. Mehdy Naficy, Library … You know, you stopped
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

director of DAI is a col-

league of Steven’s and
knows him for 18 years. Ac- REVIEWS

“The writing here is silent”

cording to Naficy, Steven livens
up discussions and is different
from other leaders of the dis-
cussion group. “He has a pecu-
liar New-York sense of humor
and an astute mind. Steven is a
knowledgeable and wise, dy- Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan
namic and up-to-date person,

T
always cooperative to his col-
Mehdy Naficy leagues”, says Mehdy Naficy. he unusual novel (No and impressive people. They
New Jokes) asserts itself would like to let go of the
in a sweet, uncanny way bush but they cannot do it.
ABOUT DAI German-American Institute discussion and video in an accumulation of voices… Where there is no God, they
and is sponsored by German discussion groups, theater A cogent and moving drama clutch to the last straw.

A
cultural institution institutions. performance, literary about a man who is terrifying Frankfurter Rundschau
American House According to Mehdy readings, International decent in the fresh uncertainty about Stellt mir eine Frage
for everyone, Naficy, though the old women club. Besides, the of a new world… The writing

T
later German-American generation is still faithful institute is active in special here is salient, economic; the he polyphony of the
Institute (DAI - Deutsch- to the library and books, events and programs for story is engaging, swift, real; book is first to be
Amerikanisches Institut), was the total amount of readers children, like a bilingual the ethic quiet and huge”. hearable by repeated
founded in 1946 as a library. has declined over years. International Kindergarten, Ron Carlson, Associated Writing reading, and this is one of the
After the Second World War Therefore DAI had to expand which proposes space for 100 Programs judge most lovely compliments a
American troops returned its competences and offers children of 20 nations. writer can ever receive“.

home and left many books in special consulting services for
Germany, which triggered the German students interested
opening of English-language in exchange programs in
libraries in various German the USA and other English-
cities. This was financially speaking countries. It also
supported by the American has a Language school
government. However since and language tandem-
1975 the American House partnership. The social
has changed its name to activities of the DAI include
T
“All these activities he strengthen of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
became crucial for us. There is novel lays in a random about Stellt mir eine Frage
a big interest among Germans depiction of a milieu
towards the US. The country
is especially in vogue by
German students as a place
to continue their education”, CV EXTRACTS of S teve n B l o o m
the library director says.
1942 – born in Brooklyn, NY
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

1977 – moved to Heidelberg

1985 – first story published
“Beating about the bush”
1990 – an interviewer for NPR
(National Public Radio, USA)
1997 - Associated Writers
Program (AWP) - Prize for
Fiction
1997 – No New Jokes, a novel
(in 2000 a German translation
Immer dieselben Witze)
2000 – National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA) – Award for
Photo: Amalia Oganjanyan

Creative Writing
2004 – Offene Ehe (Open
marriage), collection of New
York stories
2009 – Stellt mir eine Frage (Ask
me a question), a novel

Steven (in the center) and his loyal co-disscussers arguing whether gossip is harmful Married, has two children. Zoe,
47, and David, 29