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Where is Europe? A localization that is not all that simple geographically or politically is even more complicated if we look at it culturally. The Europe List is searching for a continent – and needs your help. To get you in the mood, here’s a little quiz.

Language boors will object that it’s not the sound of the words that matters, but what they mean and most of all to whom one says them. But is it really all the same whether the words “ti amo,” “kocham cię,” “je t’aime” or “ich liebe Dich” are whispered in your ear? What language says “I love you” best? The Europe List is getting to the bottom of questions such as this.

The aim of the questions in the big online survey by the Goethe-Institut and its media partners Die Welt and Deutschlandradio Kultur is to find out what makes European culture European – in the eyes of Europeans themselves as well as those of their neighbours. Between the Beatles and Beethoven, between shish kebob and pizza, this Europe has got be there somewhere. But where?

Nonetheless, assessment requires knowledge. How well do you know Europe? In our little quiz, you can put your Europe skills to the test: Who is shaking up the art market this year? What is at the end of the rainbow? Who invented the zipper? These are things everyone ought to know ...

Now that you’ve had a little practice, you have until 19 May to answer the 17 questions of the Europe List in one of the 24 languages. The results will be published in mid-June and analysed by prominent artists and academics.

In times of crisis in particular, when the word “Europe” merely calls up thoughts of bad banks and bailouts, it seems especially important that we revive the debate over the European self-image. The fundamental question that the follow-up project of the Germany List has taken up is: What would a European cultural canon be like? It’s not just about love and language, but also about architecture, cuisine and Europe’s most significant contribution to world culture.

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