Music has often been understood as “the most German of all
arts,” a cultural expression able to access the deepest layers
of the individual’s soul as much as to shape collective belonging.
This course traces the intense relationship between German literature
and music from the early nineteenth century to the post-unification
period. Whereas nineteenth-century authors such as E.T.A. Hoffmann,
Grillparzer, Kleist, and Schopenhauer often associated music with
aesthetic genius, introversion, death, and redemption; and whereas
the works of later writers such as Friedrich Nietzsche or Thomas
Mann turned post-Romantic musical forms into sources of modernist
experimentation; in very recent years pop-authors such as Thomas
Meinecke, Andreas Neumeister, Feridun Zaimoglu, and Benjamin Stuckrad-Barre
reference different aspects of contemporary music culture—e.g.,
Techno, Rap, and the figure of the DJ—to infuse German literature
with new sensibilities and transcend traditional boundaries between
high culture and the popular. Discussing a wide range of novels,
short stories, plays, essayistic texts, philosophical treatises,
operas, and musical films from the last two hundred years, this
course is designed to explore the productive interaction between
the literary and the musical, not only to understand how music has
shaped and continues to shape cultural identities in Germany, but
also to explore how literary expressions can borrow from highly
diverse musical idioms in order to complicate their formal registers.
All readings and discussions in German.
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- 3 essays (5 pages in length): 50%
- 2 presentations: 20%
- Attendance and participation: 30%
Materials
marked "ERES" in the course schedule are availabe from
the Electronic
Reserve System at Washington University. Login and password
to be announced in class.
All other books available for purchase at the Washington University
Bookstore:
- Heinrich von Kleist, Die heilige Cäcilie (ISBN:
3150080045)
- E.T.A. Hoffmann, Rat Krespel (ISBN: 3150052742)
- Franz Grillparzer, Der arme Spielmann (ISBN: 3150044308)
- Richard Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
(ISBN: 315005639X)
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Die Geburt der Tragödie aus dem
Geiste der Musik (ISBN: 3150071313)
- Thomas Mann, Tristan (ISBN: 3150064317)
- Thomas Bernhard, Der Untergeher (ISBN: 3518379976)
- Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre, Soloalbum (ISBN: 3442452031)
- Rainald Goetz, Rave (ISBN: 3518397370)
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All music materials and films to be discussed during the semester
are available for listening and viewing at Olin Library's Audio/Visual
Reserve Desk. The CDs and tapes are on 2 hour reserve.
Late work will not be accepted, except in the case of serious illness,
medical emergency, or some other compelling mitigating circumstance.
Other coursework, job requirements, or other class projects are
not considered mitigating circumstances. The major assignments will
be given to you well enough in advance for you plan your schedules
accordingly. All major assignments must be completed in order to
pass this course. "Incomplete" grades and extensions are
not available without documented evidence of extraordinary hardships
(e.g., medical problems). Having a heavy workload is not an extraordinary
hardship.
Any work that is plagiarized (borrowing someone else's ideas or
information without proper citation) will be graded an "F."
Further disciplinary action may also be taken.
Readings must be completed prior to class. The amount of reading
is heavier some weeks than others, so don't put it off to the last
minute.
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