Wir Pröbeln Und Schneidern Mit Dingen, Die in Der Brust Anderer Menschen Gesund Und Geheimnissvoll Und Unangetastet Ruhen
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“Wir pröbeln und schneidern mit Dingen, die in der Brust anderer Menschen gesund und geheimnissvoll und unangetastet ruhen . .” Narrative Observation and Hyperreflexivity in the Works of Robert Walser Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Charles Monroe Vannette, M.A. Graduate Program in Germanic Languages and Literatures The Ohio State University 2011 Dissertation Committee: Bernd Fischer, Advisor John Davidson Bernhard Malkmus Copyright by Charles Monroe Vannette 2011 Abstract This works argues that Robert Walser‟s literary production, and many of the aspects that make it unique and capture the attention of his readers, stems from a hyperreflexive mind that is acutely conscious of the world around it. The argument is underpinned by the cognitive theories of the psychiatrist Louis Sass, who suggests that both schizophrenia and modernism may derive, in at least some of their forms, from a hypertrophy of consciousness that leads to compulsive reflexivity, lengthy modes of intense observation, and something akin to an apophanous mood, in which the world appears to undergo some consequential change and is revealed to the viewer as never before. Hyperreflexivity, and its corresponding aesthetic manifestation narrative observation, are established as a source and defining feature of Walser‟s semantics and language experiments, the stasis of his landscape descriptions, his anti-labyrinthine stories, and his inclination towards servitude and the theater. Throughout, it is shown that Walser‟s descriptions and language use seem both emptied of meaning and ineffably significant. This quality can be traced back to an aesthetic process that is seen manifested throughout his oeuvre, and which closely parallels the schizophrenic cognition of the external world. ii Dedication Dedicated to my beautiful, loving, and inspiring family: Saskia, Emma, Jannik, and Jacob iii Acknowledgements This work would not have been possible without the generous support and guidance from my colleagues and mentors. Above all else, I am indebted to my committee for the direction I received throughout the research and writing process. Dr. Bernd Fischer‟s door was always open, and his critical and careful reading of every chapter; his suggestions on structure, style, and approach; and our long discussions about the positioning of my argument, were invaluable to its completion. Stemming from my apprenticeship with Dr. John Davidson, and the courses that I took from him throughout my career at The Ohio State University, I developed an interest in visual culture and the function of the gaze that became a central feature in this study. Finally, Dr. Bernhard Malkmus‟ appreciation of, and experience with Robert Walser; our numerous chats over coffee and in his office; and most significantly, his motivating counsel during the candidacy period, were essential to the development of my thesis. I am thankful also for the support of my colleagues, primarily that of Jacob Schott, who was always willing to read my chapters and critique my argument, and whose own interest in Walser grew along with my project. Lastly, this work would not have been possible without the support of the remaining faculty in The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, whose patience, kindness, and understanding over the past two years in particular will never be forgotten. Thank to you all. iv Vita 2001................................................................B.A. The University of Arizona 2003 to present ...............................................Graduate Teaching Associate, The Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, The Ohio State University 2005................................................................M.A. The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Germanic Languages and Literatures v Table of Contents Abstract ......................................................................................................................... ii Dedication .................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................... iv Vita ................................................................................................................................ v List of Figures ............................................................................................................ viii INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 1. A UBIQUITOUS STARE ............................................................................................ 40 The flâneur-texts ..................................................................................................... 42 The spazier-texts ..................................................................................................... 52 Mise en abîme and synchronic perspectives ........................................................... 60 Narrative observation .............................................................................................. 65 2. THEORIZING SCHIZOPHRENIA ............................................................................... 77 Psychoanalysis ........................................................................................................ 80 Psychiatry ................................................................................................................ 83 Anti-Psychiatry........................................................................................................ 90 Louis A. Sass ......................................................................................................... 101 3. LANGUAGE EXPERIMENTS ................................................................................... 111 Clanging ................................................................................................................ 121 Derailment ............................................................................................................. 128 Poverty of Content of Speech................................................................................ 139 Stilted Speech ........................................................................................................ 142 vi Word Approximations ........................................................................................... 145 Provisional Phrasing:............................................................................................. 148 4. ACCESSING THE REINE SEIN ................................................................................. 159 Verlust der Natürlichen Selbstverständlichkeit ..................................................... 160 The Trema ............................................................................................................. 163 The apophanous mood and the Wahrnehmungsstarre .......................................... 174 “Naturstudie” ......................................................................................................... 178 An aesthetically productive experience ................................................................. 184 5. A LOOMING BREAK .............................................................................................. 196 Die Spielregeln der Gesellschaft ........................................................................... 197 “Minotauros” ......................................................................................................... 202 Walser and schizoanalysis ..................................................................................... 206 The inner chambers ............................................................................................... 218 “heiligen, gefährlichen Quellen gleich” ................................................................ 225 6. STAYING GROUNDED ............................................................................................ 229 “Das Theater, ein Traum” ..................................................................................... 230 Servitude, an answer to the double bind ............................................................... 246 Die Spielregeln des Herrn ..................................................................................... 259 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................ 266 WORKS CITED .......................................................................................................... 280 vii List of Figures Fig 1. Masquerade and Other Stories by Robert Walser. ........................................... 35 Fig 2. Schematic representation of a semantic network. .......................................... 131 Fig 3. Visual representation of associative webs in “Brief an Edith” ....................... 137 Fig. 4 Vincent van Gogh, The Bedroom, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam ............. 169 Fig 5. Isia Leviant, Enigma, Palais de la Découverte, Paris ..................................... 176 viii INTRODUCTION “Ich frage mich, ob es unter denen, die ihr gemächliches, sicheres, schnurgerades akademisches Leben auf das eines Dichters bauen, der in Elend und Verzweiflung gelebt hat, einen gibt, der sich schämt.” – Elias Canetti “Ich