Aron Boks Illuminates DDR Life Through Lamps in *Starkstromzeit*
Aron Boks, a 28-year-old author and slam poet from Berlin-Charlottenburg, has released a new book titled Starkstromzeit. Published in autumn 2024, the work examines everyday life in East Germany through an unusual lens: lamps and neon signs. The subtitle, From Life in a State That No Longer Exists, hints at its focus on the lost world of the DDR.
The book begins with a personal connection—glass lamps designed by Boks’ grandparents for factories and FDGB holiday homes. These objects serve as a starting point for exploring the details of DDR architecture and daily routines. Rather than broad political narratives, Boks zeroes in on the small, often overlooked elements that shaped people’s lives.
Starkstromzeit offers a fresh perspective on the DDR by focusing on its material culture. The book does not revisit grand historical events but instead illuminates the ordinary objects that defined an era. Readers encounter a vanished world through the glow of lamps and the hum of neon—reminders of a life that once was.
