LFU:online

You will learn to deal with the interrelations and development of selected aspects of literature and cultural history and you will acquire the ability to analyse literary texts with scientific methods.

The seminar traces the examination of the crimes of National Socialism in Austrian literature in its historical development. In doing so, we will get to know the central debates and questions on the subject (starting from Adorno's dictum from writing to Auschwitz, Arendt's banality of evil, Mitscherlich's inability to mourn, the Historikerstreit, Goldhagen's willing enforcers, memory and memory theories) and their diverse relationships with the analysed literature.

In the text analysis, we begin with early warnings from the inter-war period and with works from exile. Of course, the focus will then be on the "Aufarbeitung" of Nazi terror from 1945 until today. In particular, the literary patterns and narrative forms are examined, which now arise with the end of contemporary witness.

Intensive reading and formal analysis; placement in the literary-historical context and critical review of central themes.

Participation in the discussion and the text analysis on the basis of prepared readings, participation in the group work, impulse presentation, written work (approx. 12 pages).

f.e.

Ilse Aichinger: Die größere Hoffnung (1948)

Hans Lebert: Die Wolfshaut (1960) in Auszügen

Elisabeth Reichart: Februarschatten (1984)

Thomas Bernhard: Heldenplatz (1988)

Erich Hackl: Abschied von Sidonie (1989)

Maja Haderlap: Engel des Vergessens (2011)

Ludwig Laher: Bitter (2014)

The positive completion of the PM 7 (VO2 Theory, Methodology and Systematics of Literary Studies) is not required until further notice as a prerequisite for admission to the PM 10 and PM 13 (according to the curriculum for the Bachelor Degree Program in German Studies 2015). So you can visit this PS parallel to the VO. Students who have completed the PM 7 (VO2 Theory, Methodology and Systematics of Literary Studies) will be preferred if there is a shortage of space.