What you’ll do
Your effortlessly successful colleague gets turned down for a promotion. It rains during your friend’s perfect holiday. So why are you smiling?
We’ve all felt a furtive pleasure at someone else’s misfortune, and the Germans have given it a name: Schadenfreude. From 'schaden' (damage) and 'freude' (joy), the emotion has perplexed philosophers and psychologists for centuries. Why can it be so satisfying to witness another’s distress? And what, if anything, should we do about it?
Inspired by the ‘Schadenfreude’ book, this Salon will bring together artists and performers (and you) to offer a distinctive perspective on this most morally conflicted of emotions. Come along and join the conversation.
