Zwischen höllischem Feuer und doppeltem Segen

Geniekonzepte in Thomas Manns Romanen Lotte in Weimar, Joseph und seine Brüder und Doktor Faustus
1. Auflage 2011
ISBN: 978-3-89971-840-9
Verlag: V&R unipress

Buch, Deutsch, 458 Seiten, Format (B × H): 163 mm x 245 mm, Gewicht: 910 g

For over 2000 years, mankind has been fascinated by the idea of genius, and the explanations of this phenomenon range from Plato's notion of divine madness to the claim of absolute originality in the Sturm und Drang period. The protagonists of Thomas Mann's novels Lotte in Weimar ('The Beloved Returns'), Joseph and His Brothers, and Doctor Faustus are part of this tradition: Goethe, to Mann the epitome of genius, is presented as an artist of the Fin de Siècle; the brilliant composer Adrian Leverkühn, who makes a deal with the Devil to heighten his creativity, is depicted with reference to the ancient concepts of inspiration and melancholy; and Joseph, bearer of the 'double blessing', transcends in his person the very concept of genius. This study analyzes how Thomas Mann's fictional characters continue the tradition of genius and, at the same time, are convincingly presented as modern-time genius figures.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Baier, Christian

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Deutsche Literatur
• Geisteswissenschaften Literaturwissenschaft Literarische Stoffe, Motive und Themen

Leseproben

For over 2000 years, mankind has been fascinated by the idea of genius, and the explanations of this phenomenon range from Plato's notion of divine madness to the claim of absolute originality in the Sturm und Drang period. The protagonists of Thomas Mann's novels Lotte in Weimar ('The Beloved Returns'), Joseph and His Brothers, and Doctor Faustus are part of this tradition: Goethe, to Mann the epitome of genius, is presented as an artist of the Fin de Siècle; the brilliant composer Adrian Leverkühn, who makes a deal with the Devil to heighten his creativity, is depicted with reference to the ancient concepts of inspiration and melancholy; and Joseph, bearer of the 'double blessing', transcends in his person the very concept of genius. This study analyzes how Thomas Mann's fictional characters continue the tradition of genius and, at the same time, are convincingly presented as modern-time genius figures.>

Über Autor(innen)

Baier, Christian
Dr. Christian Baier studierte Neuere deutsche Literatur, Linguistik des Deutschen und Alte Geschichte in Tübingen und promovierte in Bamberg, wo er 2007 bis 2009 als Lehrbeauftragter tätig war. Seit September 2012 unterrichtet er als DAAD-Lektor deutsche Sprache und Literatur an der Seoul National University in Südkorea.

Dr. Christian Baier studierte Neuere deutsche Literatur, Linguistik des Deutschen und Alte Geschichte in Tübingen und promovierte in Bamberg, wo er 2007 bis 2009 als Lehrbeauftragter tätig war.