The diseased city - Images of the body in expressionist and futurist poetry

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, European, German
Cover of the book The diseased city - Images of the body in expressionist and futurist poetry by Rebecca Steltner, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Rebecca Steltner ISBN: 9783638518826
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: July 9, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Rebecca Steltner
ISBN: 9783638518826
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: July 9, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject German Studies - Comparative Literature, grade: 70 (1), University of Cambridge (Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages), course: The City, 25 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Where the Futurist's City Symphony is a celebration of 'the Joy of Mechanical Force', the Expressionist's is dark and apocalyptic. Cities in this poetry are centres of disease and disgust. They are industrial to the extent that they are equated with factories as pars pro toto. Life in the country-side or in the city could not be more different or the rift between the rich and the poor greater. R.H. Thomas comments that between 1890 and 1912 production in Germany was already industrial, whereas society was still far from industrial. The reason being, that in Germany industrialisation set in much later than in the UK and was compressed into just three decades. It is a time when the cities were 'reborn' and the images of the city changed dramatically, some of which I want to argue still exist in our common imaginary today. There are several fields of images that contribute to the representation of the city, they are: apocalyptic visions of technology and the decaying body, disease and sexuality, but also the Ich-Zerfall (ego-decay) can be seen as being triggered by the experience of the city as Simmel elaborates and when the Expressionist poets write about nature, it only really exists in relation to that city whose red smoke always lurks in the background, its smoke can be tasted everywhere. The city is the main theme of all these poems not just the backdrop and they address city issues directly. However, much has been written about the representation of the city in connection with technology, factories and alienating working conditions, which lend themselves to a Marxist analysis. This is not what interests me here, instead I want to approach the city on a sideway, using sociological theory of the body as put forward by Turner and Benthall and later explore the links between 'body aesthetics' and 'machine aesthetics' and see where they overlap.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject German Studies - Comparative Literature, grade: 70 (1), University of Cambridge (Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages), course: The City, 25 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Where the Futurist's City Symphony is a celebration of 'the Joy of Mechanical Force', the Expressionist's is dark and apocalyptic. Cities in this poetry are centres of disease and disgust. They are industrial to the extent that they are equated with factories as pars pro toto. Life in the country-side or in the city could not be more different or the rift between the rich and the poor greater. R.H. Thomas comments that between 1890 and 1912 production in Germany was already industrial, whereas society was still far from industrial. The reason being, that in Germany industrialisation set in much later than in the UK and was compressed into just three decades. It is a time when the cities were 'reborn' and the images of the city changed dramatically, some of which I want to argue still exist in our common imaginary today. There are several fields of images that contribute to the representation of the city, they are: apocalyptic visions of technology and the decaying body, disease and sexuality, but also the Ich-Zerfall (ego-decay) can be seen as being triggered by the experience of the city as Simmel elaborates and when the Expressionist poets write about nature, it only really exists in relation to that city whose red smoke always lurks in the background, its smoke can be tasted everywhere. The city is the main theme of all these poems not just the backdrop and they address city issues directly. However, much has been written about the representation of the city in connection with technology, factories and alienating working conditions, which lend themselves to a Marxist analysis. This is not what interests me here, instead I want to approach the city on a sideway, using sociological theory of the body as put forward by Turner and Benthall and later explore the links between 'body aesthetics' and 'machine aesthetics' and see where they overlap.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Beautiful landscape, drinking and fighting. Stereotypes of the Irish abroad by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book 'Interview with the vampire' and 'Wuthering Heights' and the diabolical reversal of the nuclear family by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Modern world system theory by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Der homosexuelle Staatsfeind by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Political Parties in the USA - Realignment by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book The use of language in The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book The development of services in transition economies by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Process Virtualization Theory in the Public Sector: A Scale Development Study by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book History of Science and Technology in India in the Context of the 'Great Synergy' by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Aspects of class in select plays by Tennessee Williams and their film adaptations: 'A streetcar named desire', 'Cat on a hot tin roof', 'Sweet bird of youth' by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Zur natürlichen Selbstorganisation - Vom Sein zum Werden by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Internet Chat Communication by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Strengths and Weaknesses of the United Nations by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book German co-determination and corporate governance by Rebecca Steltner
Cover of the book Background of Geoffrey Chaucer´s 'The Miller´s Tale' by Rebecca Steltner
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy