Open Ohr Festival in Mainz: 12,000 visitors celebrate for democracy!

Open Ohr Festival in Mainz: 12,000 visitors celebrate for democracy!

The "Open Ear" Festival took place this year for the 51st time in the Mainz citadel and attracted around 12,000 visitors. The event, which took place over the Pentecost holidays, attracted a diverse audience, including many retirees and their grandchildren. The design of the festival is responsible for a free project group, while the city of Mainz provides the necessary financial support to carry out the cultural event. This year the festival was under the motto "Lauter! Democrats". This motto addresses the dangers of hate speeches and anti -democratic tendencies in today's society, which is considered particularly relevant.

As part of the festival, a variety of activities were offered, including concerts, theater performances, readings, film screenings and panel discussions. The organizers emphasized the importance of participation and participation for a functioning democracy. A central topic was the challenges that many people in the low-wage sector have dealt with and who were dealt with in a discussion round in the small tent, in which the social and festival director Eckart Lensch (SPD) took part, but without offering specific solutions.

social media and their role in the festival

In the context of the festival, the dual nature of social media was also pointed out. These platforms offer both opportunities and risks for society. They can serve as a tool for political mobilization, such as during the protest movements of recent years, including the "Twitter revolution" in 2009 in Iran and Arab Spring. Lance Bennett and Alexandra Segerberg have described the transition from "Collective Action" to "Connective Action", which underlines the importance of social media for modern protest behavior. 60% of Facebook and Instagram users are convinced that they are well informed about these platforms, with younger people between the ages of 14 and 29 intensively use social media.

Nevertheless, there are also concerns to question the effectiveness of political participation through social media. Critics warn of a possible fragmentation of the public and that the content is often shaped by homogenized political opinions. When using social media, it is therefore important to keep an eye on both the potential promotion of democratic processes and the risk of unilateral information spread.

challenges and developments

The festival had to deal with rising costs and new requirements this year. The budget is 600,000 euros, which presents the organizers with new challenges. These developments are also reflected in the prices for meals: Veggie-Burger now costs 8 euros and sausages 5 euros. There were also stalls where various articles such as hammocks, silver jewelry, pumps, colorful hats and juggling were offered.

Despite some rumors about rollator parking spaces called fake news, the festival remains a place of encounter and exchange on important social issues. The framework conditions that are influenced by social media and political discourses show how complex the challenges for living democracy are today.

For more information about the festival you can read here and to learn more about the role of social media, here .