Studia Germanica Posnaniensia
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Emigration as heterotopia. Spaces and dimensions of emigration and inner emigration of Ernst Wiechert
Get PDFErnst Wiechert (1887-1950) was an East Prussian-born author who remained mentally related to the natural and cultural landscape of that region. The relation was very strongly reflected in almost all his literary work. The article deals with defining what forms and spaces of emigration and inner emigration are specific to Wiechert. It positively verifies the present state of research which treats Wiechert as the representative of inner emigration. The article also indicates new spaces of emigration (heterotopia according to Michel Foucault\u27s definition) and inner emigration of Wiechert by careful analysis of his autobiographical texts and literary work.Ernst Wiechert (1887-1950) was an East Prussian-born author who remained mentally related to the natural and cultural landscape of that region. The relation was very strongly reflected in almost all his literary work. The article deals with defining what forms and spaces of emigration and inner emigration are specific to Wiechert. It positively verifies the present state of research which treats Wiechert as the representative of inner emigration. The article also indicates new spaces of emigration (heterotopia according to Michel Foucault\u27s definition) and inner emigration of Wiechert by careful analysis of his autobiographical texts and literary wor
Don Juan and cold love
Get PDFThe present article is an attempt to use the metaphorical category of temperature in the interpretation of literary creations of love in two different cultural contexts: against the background of the emotional culture of the inter-war period as well as of the present time. The analysis focusses on two literary texts: Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg (1936) by Ödön von Horváth as well as Don Juan de la Mancha (2007) by Robert Menasse, which encourage to reflect on remarkable transformations of the culture of love and the positioning of both men and women within the new emotional styles.The present article is an attempt to use the metaphorical category of temperature in the interpretation of literary creations of love in two different cultural contexts: against the background of the emotional culture of the inter-war period as well as of the present time. The analysis focusses on two literary texts: Don Juan kommt aus dem Krieg (1936) by Ödön von Horváth as well as Don Juan de la Mancha (2007) by Robert Menasse, which encourage to reflect on remarkable transformations of the culture of love and the positioning of both men and women within the new emotional styles
„An elemental woman in a different world“. Non-conforming desire in Jürgen Lodemann’s „Salamander”
Get PDFSince the 1980s sexual diversity has become an object of interest for both sexology and gender studies. There is general agreement that we are witnessing disintegration of traditional sexual practice combined with enhanced pluralism of sex life. The question that remains challenging is whether – or to what extent – it is possible to diversify forms of sexual activity in a society with predominantly heteronormative attitudes. The object of analysis is Salamander – a novel by Jürgen Lodemann from 2011. The author, acting as an advocate of non-normative sexuality, tells a story of Alexa Undine Brandes – an intersexual protagonist entangled in a love triangle. With her anatomically unique body, she is capable of fluent transitions in her erotic activity. The author reflects upon fluid, non-normative sexuality seen as a duality that brings sexual fulfilment and satisfaction. At the same time, however, it can also be classified as destructive passion which – posing a challenge to heteronormative social conventions – may have tragic circumstances, as described by the author.Since the 1980s sexual diversity has become an object of interest for both sexology and gender studies. There is general agreement that we are witnessing disintegration of traditional sexual practice combined with enhanced pluralism of sex life. The question that remains challenging is whether – or to what extent – it is possible to diversify forms of sexual activity in a society with predominantly heteronormative attitudes. The object of analysis is Salamander – a novel by Jürgen Lodemann from 2011. The author, acting as an advocate of non-normative sexuality, tells a story of Alexa Undine Brandes – an intersexual protagonist entangled in a love triangle. With her anatomically unique body, she is capable of fluent transitions in her erotic activity. The author reflects upon fluid, non-normative sexuality seen as a duality that brings sexual fulfilment and satisfaction. At the same time, however, it can also be classified as destructive passion which – posing a challenge to heteronormative social conventions – may have tragic circumstances, as described by the author
Goethe’s Erlkönig as cold-blooded seducer in transmedia
Get PDFThe article analyses the presentation of the Erlkönig as a cold seducer in transmedia. In this context, not only the famous ballad of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe from 1782 is regarded, but also transformations in arts, illustrations and especially in film are analysed. Within this regard the violent and coldblooded attitude of the Erlkönig towards the child is focused. In the center of the analysis is the recitation and reception of Goethe’s ballad in Andrew Birkin’s Stefan Zweig-adaptation Burning Secret from 1988. The film expands the poetic source by exposing subtexts such as homoerotic, when the baron von Hau-enstein is presented as a cold seducer like the Erlkönig, who attracts the young Edmund. At the same time Birkin adds another interpretation of the ballad, which doesn’t explain the death of the child as something physical, but as an initiation of becoming an adult and the included desires.The article analyses the presentation of the Erlkönig as a cold seducer in transmedia. In this context, not only the famous ballad of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe from 1782 is regarded, but also transformations in arts, illustrations and especially in film are analysed. Within this regard the violent and coldblooded attitude of the Erlkönig towards the child is focused. In the center of the analysis is the recitation and reception of Goethe’s ballad in Andrew Birkin’s Stefan Zweig-adaptation Burning Secret from 1988. The film expands the poetic source by exposing subtexts such as homoerotic, when the baron von Hau-enstein is presented as a cold seducer like the Erlkönig, who attracts the young Edmund. At the same time Birkin adds another interpretation of the ballad, which doesn’t explain the death of the child as something physical, but as an initiation of becoming an adult and the included desires
Temperatures of desire. Sensual presence and cultural representations
Get PDFThe aim of the article is to present the interdisciplinary theoretical framework for the analysis of the constellation of temperature and desire as well as its representations in literature and culture, which have not been the subject of a broad reflection in the area of literary and cultural studies so far. The question therefore is: What is the role of the literary, iconographic and media discourses of temperature in the processes of the creating and transformations of emotional cultures, social phenomena, political condi-tions, and last but not least in the critical reflection of these processes.The aim of the article is to present the interdisciplinary theoretical framework for the analysis of the constellation of temperature and desire as well as its representations in literature and culture, which have not been the subject of a broad reflection in the area of literary and cultural studies so far. The question therefore is: What is the role of the literary, iconographic and media discourses of temperature in the processes of the creating and transformations of emotional cultures, social phenomena, political condi-tions, and last but not least in the critical reflection of these processes
“It is annoying to suffer from something that causes one no pain” – in regard to Stephen Thomes’ literary attempts of insight into precarious desire
Get PDFThe essay is devoted to the novels of the German writer Stephen Thome. The writer’s narrative attention is focused on the puzzlement regarding intimate relations between males and females, aiming at captur-ing to what extent love, “a warming and intoxicating drug in the social coldness” (Volkmar Sigusch) is capable of making life meaningful. In the very centre of the analysis stands on the one hand the ‘in-each other-reflection’ of the male and female positions, on the other hand the palpable ambivalence between the inner freezing of the figures and their desire for gentle intimacy. The attempt has been made in order to open the arranged forms of the fulfillment of the desire – i.e. love and sexuality – to the possibility of depicting the phenomenon which is – according to Sigusch – significant for the late-modern era: more important than the sexual act for the partners is a steady relationship in which they feel accepted and preserved.The essay is devoted to the novels of the German writer Stephen Thome. The writer’s narrative attention is focused on the puzzlement regarding intimate relations between males and females, aiming at captur-ing to what extent love, “a warming and intoxicating drug in the social coldness” (Volkmar Sigusch) is capable of making life meaningful. In the very centre of the analysis stands on the one hand the ‘in-each other-reflection’ of the male and female positions, on the other hand the palpable ambivalence between the inner freezing of the figures and their desire for gentle intimacy. The attempt has been made in order to open the arranged forms of the fulfillment of the desire – i.e. love and sexuality – to the possibility of depicting the phenomenon which is – according to Sigusch – significant for the late-modern era: more important than the sexual act for the partners is a steady relationship in which they feel accepted and preserved
“It was a fine day in August 1913.” Air Temperature and Societal Upheaval in Robert Musil’s “The Man Without Qualities”
Get PDFIn Robert Musil’s fragmentary novel, The Man Without Qualities, history and poetics connect in a very potent manner. A salient example of this is the famous sentence, “It was a fine day in August 1913”, where societal upheaval is portrayed. Meteorological information contrasts and corresponds with scien-tific facts and documented historical events. Above all, it is Musil’s ironic style which brings the text’s literary power of commentary to the fore.In Robert Musil’s fragmentary novel, The Man Without Qualities, history and poetics connect in a very potent manner. A salient example of this is the famous sentence, “It was a fine day in August 1913”, where societal upheaval is portrayed. Meteorological information contrasts and corresponds with scien-tific facts and documented historical events. Above all, it is Musil’s ironic style which brings the text’s literary power of commentary to the fore
Fiebernde Geschlechter oder Przybyszewskis Suche nach einer literarischen Sprache über das Begehren
Get PDFThe main thesis of the article is that Przybyszewski allows his protagonists to suffer by elevated temper-ature or fever to defend them (and their acts) from moral judgement. On the basis of this strategy he becomes free to work out his literary experiments with the aim of finding an adequate language for the description of sexual desire
Fräulein Else’s Desire: Colorations of Emotions in the Novella by Arthur Schnitzler and the Graphic Novel by Manuele Fior
Get PDFThe following article compares the representation of nakedness in the novella Fräulein Else (1924) by Arthur Schnitzler and in the Graphic Novel Fräulein Else (2009) by Manuele Fior. While Schnitzler is inserting parts of the musical score Carnaval by Robert Schumann at that point of the text, when Fräu-lein Else is showing herself naked publically, and thus refuses to give more details, Fior cites in his Comic adaption the famous painting Nuda Veritas by Gustav Klimt, which was scandalized at its time. Slight changes are made also at the ending: while Schnitzler refers to the Orpheus-Eurydike-Myth, Fior compares the interior monologue of Fräulein Else to the myth of Echo.The following article compares the representation of nakedness in the novella Fräulein Else (1924) by Arthur Schnitzler and in the Graphic Novel Fräulein Else (2009) by Manuele Fior. While Schnitzler is inserting parts of the musical score Carnaval by Robert Schumann at that point of the text, when Fräu-lein Else is showing herself naked publically, and thus refuses to give more details, Fior cites in his Comic adaption the famous painting Nuda Veritas by Gustav Klimt, which was scandalized at its time. Slight changes are made also at the ending: while Schnitzler refers to the Orpheus-Eurydike-Myth, Fior compares the interior monologue of Fräulein Else to the myth of Echo