German Culture News, Vol XXIV, Fall 2015.Pdf
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1 German Culture News Cornell University Institute for German Cultural Studies Fall 2015 Vol XXIV IN THIS ISSUE: The Poet and the University IGCS Conference: Sept. 26-27, 2014 proper place of poetry became in- cluded with a central insight from The Poet and the University creasingly contested. George of- Kantorowicz that also applied Stefan George among the The two-day conference, “The fered an answer to the question of to the relation of members of Scholars Poet and the University: Stefan the relationship between poetry the George Circle to their Meis- George among the Scholars,” and thought: a scholarship born ter: “sometimes the only way to Word from the Director organized by Peter Uwe of the spirit of poetry. The deep save the king is to kill the king.” Hohendahl and Paul Fleming impression that this idea made IGCS Workshop: (Cornell), and sponsored by the on several fi elds of study can be Robert Norton (University of Critical Theory and Institute for German Cultural traced through publications of Notre Dame), in his presentation (post)Colonialism II Studies, the College of Arts and members of the George circle. “Plato and the George Circle,” Sciences, the Society for the Fleming discussed works by Max elaborated on the uniquely impor- IGCS Artist in Residence Humanities, and the Departments Kommerell (1902-1944) and tant role of Plato for the Circle, Ulrich Peltzer/ Spring 2015 of German Studies, Philosophy, Ernst Kantorowicz (1895-1963), and also traced the rise of a pe- and Comparative Literature at and argued that the best output of culiar vision of Plato concurrent On Seriality / Cornell, examined the infl uence of the George Circle scholars was in with the vision of the Circle it- German Studies German poet Stefan George (1868- fact produced after they had bro- self. Plato served as a motivating Graduate Student 1933) on the scholarly work of ken with and distanced themselves force for George’s desire to fash- Conference his disciples in the George Circle. from George. In taking this posi- ion a new mode of existence for In his introductory remarks, Peter tion, Fleming asked two primary poetry and to transform the world Derrida’s Jewish Specters Retrospective: Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 Colloquium Series Hohendahl Graduate Essay Prize in Critical Theory The Antisocial Turn: The Age of Riots Uwe Hohendahl sketched the questions: “What has to be left according to the Circle’s vision. central role of the George Circle behind?” and “What remains?” Norton juxtaposed George’s and Lectures and Events in German high culture in the Before examining Kommerell’s other members of the Circle’s ap- fi rst half of the twentieth century, books Der Dichter als Führer preciation for Plato with their aim Posters of this Semester’s and stressed that the activities (1928) and Jean Paul (1933), of creating a new state. In their Conferences of the movement in fi elds such Fleming fi rst sketched George’s conception, the precondition for a as literary theory, sociology, own account of Jean Paul. He ob- new state was the renewal of the political science, and philosophy served the resemblance of the fi g- people inhabiting it. Yet it was the can be seen as a last general effort ure of the poet in Kommerell’s in- work of Kurt Hildebrandt (1881- of German conservatism before terpretations to George, as well as 1966) that served as the founda- German Culture News the NSDAP’s rise to power. subversive tendencies in the later tion for an interpretation of Plato Cornell University IGCS book on Jean Paul. In Fleming’s that made the philosopher’s ideas 726 University Avenue In his talk entitled “Reading with reading of Kantorowicz’s Kaiser compatible with a eugenic per- Ithaca, NY 14850 the Poet: George’s Incursion into Friedrich der Zweite (1928), he spective. His 1933 book Platon. phone: 607-255-8408 the Humanities,” Paul Fleming showed how the modes of histori- Der Kampf des Geistes um die email: [email protected] focused on dynamics among the ography and prophecy converge, Macht (“Plato. The Struggle of poet, his followers, and scholar- yielding to the latter, although Spirit for Power”) depicts Plato Paul Fleming: Director ship in the university. Fleming this methodological constellation as the founder of a theory of eu- Olga Petrova: Editor claimed that whereas for a long is absent in Kantorowicz’s bet- genics. In his talk, Norton there- Miyako Hayakawa:Copy Editor time the importance of poetry for ter-known and much more sober fore argued for a reconsidera- Hannah Mueller: Photographer thought had been beyond dispute work, The King’s Two Bodies: tion of the apparently apolitical on both sides of the political spec- A Study in Medieval Political & Student Coordinator continued on page 3 trum, the controversy over the Theology (1957). Fleming con- Word from the Director It has been another productive, relaxed evening of discussing literature Keynote lecture: Sept. 18, 4pm, collaborative year at the Institute and good food, please be in touch with Eric Downing (University of North for German Cultural Studies, with IGCS. Carolina), Fontane & the Future Ends of many exciting events and several Realism new programs to report – and much Please mark your calendars for the more to come in 2015-16. In addition upcoming Fall 2015 IGCS sponsored Sept. 19: presentations by Sean Franzel, to the writer-in-residence, colloquia, and co-sponsored events – for more Ulrike Vedder, Anette Schwarz, Peter workshops, conferences, and concerts information and up-to-the-minute Hohendahl, Elisabeth Strowick, Sam documented in this issue of German reports, visit the IGCS website (igcs Frederick Cultural News and on the IGCS website, cornell.edu): I would also like to highlight the Organized by Peter Hohendahl; following from 2014-15: Colloquia Sponsored by Cornell University’s IGCS, College of Arts & Sciences, and The graduate student exchange with Unless otherwise indicated, colloquia the Departments of German Studies, the University of Cologne, begun in take place at 3pm in 156 Goldwin Smith History, and Comparative Literature fall 2014, is now in full swing. Last Hall. An advance copy of each paper year, Matteo Calla, PhD candidate in can be obtained in the Department of Oct. 23-24, 2015, 401 Physical Sciences German, was awarded the fi rst stipend German Studies, 183 Goldwin Smith Building to Cologne for 2014-15; this academic Hall. Mapping the Medieval / Conference in year 2015-16, Matthew Stoltz and Leigh honor of Arthur Groos Organized by the Sept. 4, 2015 Nur über seine York will each spend a semester at our German Studies Department Leiche: Literaturgeschichte der exchange partner, Cologne University’s Männerfreundschaft (Andreas Lectures & Other Events Humanities graduate school, a.r.t.e.s. Kraß, Institut für deutsche Literatur, Applications for the exchange are open Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) Sept. 8-10, 2015 A Yiddish Theater to all Humanities graduate students Festival Organized by Cornell Jewish with a knowledge of German who Sept. 25, 2015 Genealogy Trouble: Studies Program with Ithaca College could benefi t from a semester or a Secularization in Löwith, Blumenberg, Jewish Studies and Cornell Council for year researching in Cologne. Please Schmitt and Agamben (Kirk Wetters, the Arts For more information, please encourage students to apply. As German, Yale University) visit jewishstudies.cornell.edu part of the exchange, Cornell students receive 1,000 euros per month for up Oct. 16, 2015 Before Truth: Walter Sept. 15, 2015, 4:45pm, Toboggan to 10 months: every year we can send Benjamin’s “Erkenntniskritische Lodge Martin Heidegger Saved either one 1 graduate student for the Vorrede” (Kristina Mendicino, German, My Life (Grant Farred, Cornell) Co- full 10 months, or 2 graduate students Brown University) sponsored with African Studies for 5 months each (it can be the same semester). Applications are generally Nov. 6, 2015 Mosenthal’s Deborah and Sept. 24, 2015, 4:30pm, 366 McGraw due mid February. the Politics of Compassion: Anatomy of Hall Through storms of steel: The a Tearjerker (Jonathan Hess, Germanic path to the marble cliffs. Ernst Jünger Congratulations to Alina Carrillo, Languages & Literatures, UNC at dealing with Thucydides (Christian Cornell undergraduate majoring Chapel Hill) *co-sponsored by the Wendt, Free University, Berlin) Co- in “Environmental Science and Jewish Studies Program sponsored by History, Classics, IGCS, Sustainability,” for being awarded a full and Program on Freedom and Free tuition and accommodation scholarship Nov. 20, 2015 Clouded Visions: Societies to the six-week “Cologne Summer Particulate Matter in F. W. School 2015 on Environmental Murnau’s Faust and Hartmut Nov. 16, 2015, 4:30pm, place TBA, Studies: Sustainable Cities.” Every Bitomsky’s Dust (Paul Dobryden, Wrong Sex and the City: Polish Work year, Cologne offers up to 2 stipends German, Cornell University) Migration and Subaltern Masculinity to Cornell undergraduates. The topics (Dirk Uffelmann, University of Passau) change every year; please keep an eye Dec. 4, 2015 Co-sponsored with FGSS open for the announcement in spring Klopstock’s Darstellung and the Cult (application usually due end of March). of Aesthetic Experience (Matteo Calla, More co-sponsored events for Fall 2015 German, Cornell University) will be added soon; please browse the The Contemporary German IGCS website (igcs.cornell.edu) for all Literature Reading Group will Conferences & Workshops that is taking place this year. continue its monthly meetings dedicated to the discussion of the most recent The Challenge of Realism: Theodor --Paul Fleming works of German literature (texts Fontane appearing in the last 5-10 years). If Sept. 18-19, 2015, 258 Goldwin you are interested in participating for a Smith Hall 3 continued from page 1 George Circle, as portrayed in recent biog- by observing that the reception of Nietzsche Max Kommerell’s 1928 study, Der Dichter raphies, by underlining the shift in George’s in the George Circle resists a simple reading, als Führer in der Deutschen Klassik, and position toward politics.