CALL FOR PAPERS
Goethe and Twentieth Century Literary and Critical Theory
German Studies Association
Thirty-First Annual Conference
October 4 -7, 2007
San Diego, California
This panel requests papers on the reception of Goethe in literary and
critical theory of the twentieth century. Papers should not focus
exclusively on theoretically informed readings of Goethe's works, but rather
on how Goethe and his works raise specific problems of relevance for
twentieth century theory. Suggested general topics for this session could
be:
1) Problems relating to periodisation, aesthetic categorisation and national
boundaries: e.g., does Goethe belong to the Romantic movement, to Weimar
Classicism, or to both? Is he a 'world' author, a European author, or a
German author?
2) Issues relating to the canon: what is 'canonical' about Goethe works,
and how might this 'canonical' status be theorised and/or questioned?
3) The relationship between author and text: can we speak of a 'Death of
the Author' in Goethe studies? Does the name 'Goethe' now refer to an
historical individual, or to a complex of cultural institutions, ideologies
and constructions?
4) The legacy of Goethe's thought for twentieth century critical theory /
philosophy: for example, in the works of Benjamin, Adorno, Blumenberg,
Cassirer, Dilthey, Lukács, Bloch, Gadamer, Simmel, etc.
Suggestions for papers (200 word abstracts) should be sent to:
Angus Nicholls, Queen Mary, University of London, [log in to unmask]
Papers can be delivered in either English or German.
Submission deadline for abstracts is January 31, 2007.
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Dr. Angus Nicholls,
Centre for Anglo-German Cultural Relations,
Department of German,
Queen Mary,
University of London.
Mile End Road, London E1 4NS.
Phone: +44 (0) 207 882 2683
Mobile: 0785 174 3004
Fax: +44 (0) 208 980 5400
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