German 4102, Spring 1995
Washington University
Lutz Koepnick

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This semniar examines the political legacy of romantic art, in particular the notion of art as a vehicle of individual and collective redemption, in nineteenth-century literature and culture. Special attention is given to the implication of art in the construction of German national identity around 1870, the role of literature in the foundation of authoritarian rule and the projects of colonial expansion, and the impact of genius cults on the aesthetic revolt against bourgeois culture around 1900. Writers and artists discussed include Arthur Schopenhauer, C. D. Friedrich, Georg Büchner, Clara Wieck-Schumann, Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Thomas Mann, Wilhelm Jensen, Richard Wagner, Friedrich Nietzsche, Stefan George, Wilhelm II, Rudolf Borchardt, Theodor Storm, and Hermann Hesse. Discussion, readings, and papers in German.
 

COURSE SCHEDULE
 

I. Modelling Art and the Artist: Catalysts of Transcendence in Modern Life

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1/18 Introduction

1/23 Selected paintings by C. D. Friedrich [Rd]

1/25 Arthur Schopenhauer, "Vom Genie" [Rd]

1/30 Georg Büchner, "Lenz" (1835)

2/1 Clara Wieck-Schumann, Selected Lieder (1840-43) and letters to Robert Schumann [Rd]

2/6 Hugo von Hofmannsthal, "Der Tod des Tizian" (1892) [Rd]

2/8 Thomas Mann, "Tristan" (1903)

2/13 & 2/15 Wilhelm Jensen, "Gradiva" (1903/07)
                    Report on Freud's reading of Jensen
 

II. Religion, Art, and the Construction of National Identity

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2/20 Richard Wagner, "Beethoven" (1870) [Rd]

2/22 Friedrich Nietzsche, Die Geburt der Tragödie (1872) (sel)

2/27 & 3/1 Richard Wagner, Parsifal (1882)

3/13 & 3/15 Richard Wagner, "Was ist deutsch?" [Rd]
                    Report on national monuments and festivals in the 19th century
 

III. Art and Authority

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3/20 & 3/22 Friedrich Nietzsche, Also sprach Zarathustra (1883-85) (sel)

3/27 Stefan George, Algabal (1892) [Rd]

3/29 Wilhelm II, "Siegesallee-Rede" (1901) [Rd]

4/3 Rudolf Borchardt, "Villa" (1908) [Rd]
 

IV. Mapping Germany: Aesthetic Culture, Imperialism, and the Cult of Everyday Life

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4/5 & 4/10 Theodor Storm, Der Schimmelreiter (1888)

4/12 & 4/17 Thomas Mann, "Tonio Kröger" (1903)

4/19 & 4/24 & 4/26  Hermann Hesse, Peter Camenzind (1904)
 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 

SEMINAR SESSIONS
Mondays & Wednesdays 2.30-4, Ridgley 419

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
(topics to be announced)

Paper #1: due (2-3 pages): February 6
Paper #2: due (2-3 pages): February 27
Paper #3: due (2-3 pages): March 29
Paper #4: due (5 pages): April 26

GRADE BREAKDOWN
Oral participation: 25 %
In-class presentations: 25 %
Writing Assignments #1-3: 30%
Writing Assignment #4: 20%

OFFICE HOURS
Ridgley 422
Mondays 1:15-2:15
Wednesdays: 1:15-2:15

TELEPHONE
Office: (314) 935-4007
email: lkoep@artsci.wustl.edu