Provocative moments in culture in 2018

Let us begin with a poem that no longer exists — at least not on the façade of the Alice Salomon Hochschule in Berlin. Its student committee felt that the poem "Avenidas" by Bolivian-Swiss poet Eugen Gomringer, painted in large letters on the school, was sexist. The group managed to have the poem painted over. Minister of Culture Monika Grütters spoke of a "frightening act of cultural barbarism."

In May, the Swedish Academy canceled the Nobel Prize for Literature after 18 women had accused the husband of Academy member Katarina Frostenson of sexual harassment. The couple is also said to have embezzled money and passed on the names of Nobel Prize winners prematurely.

The Israeli singer Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest in May. The first calls for boycotts of the ESC 2019, which will take place in Israel, followed right after. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement leading the campaigns, which aim to end Israel's human rights violations against Palestinians, is itself controversial and considered by some to be anti-Semitic.

Ruhrtriennale art festival director Stefanie Carp first invited Scottish band Young Fathers — self-declared BDS supporters — to perform, then uninvited them, then invited them again. In turn, state premier of North Rhine-Westfalia Armin Laschet cancelled his participation. Carp finally agreed to abide by the state parliament resolution in the future. Its verdict on BDS: "clearly anti-Semitic."

Following the Echo music award nomination for rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang, criticism of their anti-Semitic, homophobic and misogynist lyrics was rampant. When they actually received the award, other artists returned their prizes in protest. The Echo, Germany's most important music prize, was then abolished, and the rappers were invited to the Auschwitz concentration camp memorial site (photo).

Facebook was also busy in 2018 censoring works of art. One who fell prey: Marianne, a national figure of the French Republic, shown in Eugene Delacroix's painting leading an uprising with a bare bosom. According to the social network's guidelines, photos of breasts are removed as soon as a nipple is visible. However, photos of paintings and sculptures are excluded. Facebook once again apologized.

Street art pioneer Banksy's take on the art world also caused a stir. At an auction of his famous "Girl with Balloon," the artwork was shredded after the acceptance of a bid. Banksy was responsible for it. The press called it a bold act. The buyer was first shocked, then enthusiastic: The value of the work purchased for €1.18 million ($1.35 million) is said to have increased by 50 percent.

Restitution — and if so, how much? Western countries find it difficult to deal with looted art from the colonial era. France's President Macron showed the way: First he commissioned a report, then he announced that he would return works of art and objects from French museums to Africa over the next five years. In December, some stolen statues were already returned to Benin.

Hollywood clearly has been no mecca for Trump fans. But no one has been as outspoken as Robert De Niro at the Tony Awards in June. He began his speech with the words: "F**k Trump" on live TV, and it earned him a standing ovation. Months later, a pipe bomb was sent by a deranged Trump follower to his restaurant in New York.

Speaking of speeches, Oprah Winfrey gave a laudable one on women's rights and racial discrimination at the Golden Globes. Some saw it as an unofficial bid for candidacy for the 2020 presidential election. But soon after, things changed when right-wing media resurfaced photos showing Winfrey rubbing shoulders with Harvey Weinstein, the culprit who triggered the #MeToo movement.

In January, #MeToo also reached the German film industry. Several women accused director Dieter Wedel of sexual assault, abuse of power and rape. Public broadcaster ZDF and the Bavaria Film company initiated internal investigations, but found no evidence of sexual assault. Former employees confirmed that Wedel was disrespectful and choleric.

Chris Dercon held out for almost eight months as director of the Berlin Volksbühne. Critics said Dercon wanted to turn Franz Castorf's cult theater into an "event booth." The controversial director often had feces placed in front of his office and activists occupied the theater for a week. In April, Dercon abruptly resigned. He'll become president of the Association of National Museums in Paris.

ZDF had wanted to record a concert by punk band Feine Sahne Fischfilet at the Bauhaus in Dessau. However, since the musicians are outspoken anti-fascists, right-wing extremist groups announced protests. The director of the Bauhaus Foundation first canceled the concert, but then realized that she had called even more attention to the neo-Nazis. She was railed with criticism from all sides.