Ingeborg Bachmann's Literary Critique of the Journalistic Media

“Es ist ein unglaublicher Betrug.” Ingeborg Bachmann’s literary critique of the journalistic media by Gisela Nittel A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for admission to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy August 2008 Department of Germanic Studies The University of Sydney Abstract Despite the consistency and regularity of Bachmann’s critique of journalists and journalistic content, there has been to date no dedicated study of her portrayal of the journalistic media in individual works or her work as a whole. This dissertation addresses this gap in Bachmann studies by undertaking a detailed and comprehensive analysis of Bachmann’s literary portrayal of the journalistic media from the time she first came into the literary spotlight in the early 1950s until her 1972 Simultan collection, the last work to be published in her lifetime. The primary focus of this dissertation is a close textual analysis of literary works in which Bachmann makes significant references to journalists and journalism, examining these references closely in the context of existing scholarly analyses. In a systematic analysis of each literary genre that Bachmann tackled—poetry, radio plays, short prose and novels—this study demonstrates that Bachmann’s critique of journalists and journalism recurs with notable frequency and consistency throughout her work from 1952 onwards. The detailed analyses show that Bachmann’s critique of the “fourth estate” ranges from the mildly critical to the vitriolic, and constantly returns to a core set of concerns about the misrepresentations perpetrated by the journalistic media. The negativity of Bachmann’s critique is, however, almost always offset (and even undercut) by evidence that the journalistic media are not always successful in their (according to Bachmann’s portrayal) deceitful and destructive practices. This results in the oxymoron encapsulated in a literal interpretation of Ich’s declaration in Malina that the press is “ein unglaublicher Betrug”: while Bachmann does her utmost to depict the press as “Betrug”, she simultaneously reveals to us that it is also “unglaublich” in the sense of “unglaubhaft”. What also emerges from this study is that Bachmann’s literary critique of the journalistic media as both deceptive and inherently destructive is often counterbalanced by a more positive and contrary element that points towards where and how we might find the truth that the journalistic media do not and cannot convey. ii Acknowledgements While every doctoral dissertation represents the end result of a long and difficult journey, this one was perhaps a little longer and more challenging than many others. My current PhD candidature started in 1998, but the history of my fascination with Ingeborg Bachmann dates back to 1974 when I began a postgraduate research project into her poetry, that soon developed into a master’s thesis on Malina, but was abandoned due to lack of confidence that I could do justice to this bewildering but fascinating novel. Two decades later, I returned to my Malina project, this time at doctorate level. What a shock to discover that there had not only been a “Bachmann-boom” in the time I had been away from my project, but that Malina was at last widely recognised, not only for its narrative artistry but its social relevance. Although my return to postgraduate studies was therefore made much more interesting, it also proved to be a greater challenge because of the wealth of research now available. This, however, proved to be the least of my challenges, for the last decade of life has thrown many handgrenades in my path. But at last it is done! No longer a study exclusively devoted to Malina but one that was certainly inspired by that novel. And there are many people that I must thank for helping me in this labour of love. First, deep thanks goes to my supervisor, Dr Andrea Bandhauer, for her support, guidance and patience, as well as the time she has spent reviewing and discussing my many drafts. I particularly thank Andrea, however, for her unerring belief that I had something worthwhile to contribute, and for her faith that, despite the many distractions and difficulties of the last decade, I would finally get there. Deep and heartfelt thanks also to my associate supervisor, Dr Ken Moulden, who gave me the confidence to take up postgraduate studies in the first place. Over the last ten years Ken has also reviewed my work at various stages, and provided invaluable support and guidance in relation to my post-graduate studies. To Ken and his partner, Lyn, I am also most grateful for their warm friendship over more than three decades, and for the many, many wonderful meals and extended conversations over glasses of wine that I have enjoyed at their place. No PhD can be completed without the help of library staff. In this regard, special thanks go to the staff in the Document Delivery section of Fisher Library at the University of Sydney, who, in response to my innumerable requests, have acquired books and other research material from all over the globe, in a friendly and efficient way over the years of my project. Dr Eva Irblich and the staff of the Handschriftensammlung in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, I thank for their help in accessing the Bachmann archives while I was in Vienna in September 1999. My gratitude also to the staff of the Handschriftensammlung of the Deutsches Literaturarchiv at Marbach for their friendly assistance during my study trip to Germany in October 1999. I am also grateful for the financial assistance provided by Sydney University’s Frederick Sefton Delmar Travel Scholarship, which helped to fund those study trips. iii Acknowledgements There are others who have helped me in very practical ways with my research. Many thanks to Dr Jörg-Dieter Kogel of Radio Bremen, for sending me a large bundle of press clippings and a CD relating to Radio Bremen’s release of Bachmann’s Römische Reportagen, and to Dr Ingvild Folkvord for providing me with a copy of her dissertation, and her book, Sich ein Haus schreiben. Others whose advice and assistance has been much appreciated include Dr Michael Beddow, who reviewed some of my early drafts; Martin Gruber, whose friendly guidance and support helped to make my much too short study trip to Vienna as productive as possible; and Dr Monika Albrecht, who responded so promptly and helpfully to my enquiries about the »Todesarten«-Projekt edition. A number of friends have not only provided moral support and enormous encouragement over the last ten years, but also generously gave up precious free time to proof-read my final draft. For this, very special thanks to Siew Jin, Reingard and Aleit. Reingard, in particular, I must thank for her many, many phone calls of encouragement over the years, providing welcome advice and moral support above and beyond the call of duty. There are many other friends whom I also want to thank for their companionship, encouragement and support over decades: Isabel, Helen, Julie, Bron, Joan, as well as my sister, Simone, and her partner, Russell. A big thank you to my manager, Graeme, for granting me extended leave to complete my final draft. And to my work colleagues, Alison, Karen, Kesson, Louise and Craig, very special thanks for their warm friendship, good humour and unqualified support over the last four years when my life was turned upside down by a range of life forces. Finally, I dedicate this dissertation to my mother, Erna, who would have been so proud to see her daughter become a “Doctor”, and to my father, Friedrich, who, like my mother, had to leave school at 15, but who inspired in me a love of books and a passion for learning, and who encouraged his daughter to go to university in an era when many fathers did not. My deepest, deepest thanks and eternal gratitude to all of you! Gisela Nittel Sydney, August 2008 iv Contents Abstract......................................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements......................................................................................................................................iii Chapter 1. Introduction................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background to this study ........................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Aim............................................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Definitions and conventions ...................................................................................................... 4 Definitions.................................................................................................................................. 4 Citation conventions and abbreviations ..................................................................................... 5 1.4 Academic research context........................................................................................................ 6 1.5 Scope, approach and structure ................................................................................................. 11 Scope........................................................................................................................................ 11 Approach.................................................................................................................................

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