Literature and Film in Vienna around 1900
Around 1900 the literary scene in Vienna was highly complex. In this course we will concentrate on the “Young Vienna”-school – a group of writers who embraced modern developments like psychoanalysis and dealt with formerly taboo topics like human sexuality.
The author we will chiefly deal with is Arthur Schnitzler, however, we will also spend some time discussing writers like Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Karl Kraus.
Besides, we will explore how this historical epoch was portrayed later in films.
Literary texts that will be discussed:
- Hugo von Hofmannsthal: Elektra
- Arthur Schnitzler: Der Reigen
- Arthur Schnitzler: Lieutenant Gustl
- Arthur Schnitzler Traumnovelle (which was the literary model for Stanley Kubrick‘s movie Eyes Wide Shut in 1999)
Requirements: Attendance and participation in class discussion constitute 30%, a short presentation of one of the literary texts 30% and a written final (essay-type) 40% of the grade.
