Stockholm University Department of History A Vegetarian Re-Enchantment of the World Subjective experiences, gender, and emotion in German vegetarianism read through the member magazines of the Deutscher Vegetarier- Bund 1895-1931 Wilma Sjöberg Master thesis, spring 2017 Supervisor: Jens Ljunggren Examiners: Elisabeth Elgán and Karin Dirke Table of Contents 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 4 1.1. Historical background .................................................................................................................. 4 1.1.1. A vegetarian diet before vegetarianism .......................................................................... 4 1.1.2. German vegetarianism .................................................................................................... 6 1.1.3. Lebensreform .................................................................................................................. 6 1.1.4. War and the Weimar-republic ......................................................................................... 7 1.2 Previous research .......................................................................................................................... 8 1.2.1. Vegetarianism as a salvation ................................................................................................. 9 1.2.2. Gender and vegetarianism .................................................................................................. 10 1.3. Research Aims ............................................................................................................................ 11 1.4. Research Questions .................................................................................................................... 12 1.5. Theory ......................................................................................................................................... 13 1.5.1. Subjectivization ................................................................................................................... 13 1.5.2. Gender ................................................................................................................................. 15 1.5.3. Emotions .............................................................................................................................. 16 1.6. The vegetarian subject - method and concepts ......................................................................... 16 1.7. Primary source material ............................................................................................................. 18 1.7.1. Selection of material ........................................................................................................... 19 1.8. Disposition .................................................................................................................................. 20 2. Study .................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.1. 1895 - A hygienic and natural body ............................................................................................ 21 2.1.1. Characteristics ..................................................................................................................... 21 2.1.1.1. Bildung and hard work ................................................................................................. 21 2.1.1.2. Rationality or sensitivity ............................................................................................... 23 2.1.2. Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 25 2.1.2.1. The great bread-debate of 1895 .................................................................................. 25 2.1.2.2. A natural sex drive ........................................................................................................ 27 2.1.2.3. Physical activities .......................................................................................................... 27 2.1.2.4. The purity of singing ..................................................................................................... 29 2.1.2.5. Development of the self ............................................................................................... 30 2.1.3. Promises .............................................................................................................................. 31 2.1.3.1. A natural body .............................................................................................................. 31 2.1.4. Concluding 1895 .................................................................................................................. 32 2.2. 1908 -Happy vegetarian soldiers and missionaries .................................................................... 35 2.2.1. Characteristics ..................................................................................................................... 35 1 2.2.1.1. Vegetarian soldiers ....................................................................................................... 35 2.2.1.2. Vegetarian missionaries ............................................................................................... 37 2.2.2. Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 38 2.2.2.1. Required happiness ...................................................................................................... 38 2.2.2.2. The Horrid Meat ........................................................................................................... 40 2.2.2.3. Emotions in nature ....................................................................................................... 41 2.2.3. Promises .............................................................................................................................. 42 2.2.3.1. Natural motherhood .................................................................................................... 42 2.2.4. Concluding 1908 .................................................................................................................. 45 2.3. 1921 - Compassionate masculinity and the embracing bosom of nature ................................. 47 2.3.1. Characteristics ..................................................................................................................... 47 2.3.1.1. The compassionate vegetarian .................................................................................... 47 2.3.1.2. Sentimentality and masculinity .................................................................................... 49 2.3.2. Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 52 2.3.2.1. Rejecting lust and luxury .............................................................................................. 52 2.3.3. Promises .............................................................................................................................. 55 2.3.3.1. Nature as a spiritual atmosphere ................................................................................. 55 2.3.4. Concluding 1921 .................................................................................................................. 57 2.4. 1931 - Baltzer’s legacy and the Gemütsvegetarier .................................................................... 60 2.4.1. Characteristics ..................................................................................................................... 60 2.4.1.1. Gemütsvegetarier ......................................................................................................... 60 2.4.1.2. Emotional leaders ......................................................................................................... 61 2.4.2. Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 64 2.4.2.1. An inner state ............................................................................................................... 64 2.4.2.2. Christian and vegetarian ethics .................................................................................... 66 2.4.3. Promises .............................................................................................................................. 67 2.4.3.1. A vegetarian ethical future ........................................................................................... 68 2.4.4. Concluding 1931 .................................................................................................................. 69 3. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 71 3.1. Summary..................................................................................................................................... 71 3.2. The changing vegetarian subject ................................................................................................ 73 3.3. Methodological and theoretical considerations .......................................................................