Individual Research Master – Anina Krasnic: A Bridge Between Politics, Culture, and Media

In Weimar, Goethe and Schiller look out over Theaterplatz—a symbol of an important chapter in German literary history. Tourists snap photos, theatergoers pass by, and Weimar residents chat. But Theaterplatz has always been a site of political gatherings as well: from the Weimar Republic to the far-right groups that demonstrate there today. In her bachelor’s thesis, Anina Krasnic examined the role of Theaterplatz as a bridge between cultural heritage, the political public sphere, and the desire for belonging.

The question with which the 23-year-old applied for the Individual Research Master’s program follows almost directly from this, but now takes a more in-depth focus: “The Individual Research Master’s program allows me to combine political science with questions of cultural studies. I’m particularly interested in how cultural participation can promote social cohesion and strengthen democracy against extremism,” explains Anina Krasnic. In doing so, she aims to examine the connection between experiences of exclusion and the need for belonging, as well as the significance of institutions such as the Bundeswehr as sites of social belonging in this context.

“Even during my bachelor’s program, I enjoyed delving into texts and developing my own questions. I enjoy doing academic work.” That’s why she looked for a master’s program that would allow her to delve even deeper into her research questions.

At the Leuphana Graduate School, she found the perfect place for this: In addition to research courses, the Individual Research Master’s program includes courses from the doctoral program. Students can choose additional courses tailored to their specific research questions. “I’m still at the beginning of my master’s program. But I can definitely see myself pursuing a Ph.D. That’s another reason I came to Lüneburg.”
When she received her acceptance from Leuphana, Anina Krasnic was thrilled: “I love the spacious, beautiful campus, the small study groups, and the town with its charming old houses. Plus, Hamburg isn’t far away.”

Anina Krasnic grew up near Stuttgart. She earned her International Baccalaureate (equivalent to the Abitur) at an international school. For her bachelor’s degree, she moved to Amsterdam. At the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, she studied media studies with a focus on art, design, and architecture. During that time, she also completed her Erasmus semester in Weimar. 
She brought the fundamental questions about Theaterplatz with her to Lüneburg.