Analyzing paradigmatic examples from Antiquity to the 19th century, this thirteen-essay collection explores the production of historico-political knowledge from the vantage point of literary and cultural studies. Focusing on drama as a pan-European
This volume presents the proceedings of the international conference “Theatre Cultures within Globalising Empires: Looking at Early Modern England and Spain”, held in 2012 as part of the ERC Advanced Grant Project Early Modern European Drama and the Cultural Net (DramaNet) . Implementing the concept of culture as a virtual network, it investigates Early modern European drama and its global dissemination. The 12 articles of the volume – all written by experts in the field teaching in the United Kingdom, the USA, Russia, Switzerland, India and Germany – focus on a selection of English and Spanish dramas from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Analysing and comparing motifs, formal parameters as well as plot structures, they discuss the commonalities and differences of Early modern drama in England and Spain.
This volume offers a new theoretical approach to cultural production inspired by the metaphor of culture as a virtual network. Following a thorough outline of this approach, the theoretical framework is elucidated in a second part through examples drawn from early modern European drama. A third and final part then presents a critical discussion of the concept of „national“ culture and literature, from its first formulation by Johann Gottfried Herder to its current developments, including postcolonial studies.
This volume presents a new approach to Spanish Baroque drama, inspired by Foucauldian discourse archeology, whose rare fusion of meticulous philology and ambitious theory will be exciting and fruitful both for specialists of Spanish literature and for anyone invested in the history of European thought. Detailed readings are dedicated to some of the most prominent plays by Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Barca, both autos sacramentales ( El viaje del alma ; El divino Orfeo ; La lepra de Constantino ) and comedias ( El castigo sin venganza ; El príncipe constante ; El médico de su honra ). The „archeological“ perspective cast on the plays implies an integration of their discourse-historical „foils“, from pagan antiquity through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as a discussion of related discourses, mainly theological, philosophical and historiographical. A separate „excursus“ suggests a reconsideration of the common manner in which the discursive relation between the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Mannerism and the Baroque is conceptualized.
This volume explores religion from a trans-cultural and international perspective, aiming to uncover new ways for religions to coexist peacefully in 21st-century societies and contribute to global pacification. It raises critical questions about whether a religion can accept the presence of others without sacrificing its own truth claims and what inherent characteristics would need to be emphasized. Alternatively, it considers if secular culture can promote a shared ideal of peaceful coexistence among diverse religions. The essays examine the socio-political implications of religions across Asian, African, Latin American, and European contexts, reflecting on the complex interplay between society, state, and religion. One analysis discusses a secular state engaging in dialogue with Muslim communities through a moderated communication platform, while another highlights the political influence of Christian churches in Nigeria through political advertising. Additionally, the collection addresses various concepts of religion in Western societies, with one essay asserting that democratic states must ensure religious freedom to foster peaceful coexistence among all faiths.
The present volume introduces new considerations on the topic of “World Literature”, penned by leading representatives of the discipline from the United States, India, Japan, the Middle East, England, France and Germany. The essays revolve around the question of what, specifically in today's rapidly globalizing world, may be the productive implications of the concept of World Literature, which was first developed in the 18 th century and then elaborated on by Goethe. The discussions include problems such as different script systems with varying literary functions, as well as questions addressing the relationship between ethnic self-description and cultural belonging. The contributions result from a conference that took place at the Dahlem Humanities Center, Freie Universität Berlin, in 2012.
Wie entsteht eine gute Theorie eigentlich und wie setzt sie sich gegen andere Theorien durch? Was zeichnet eine Theorie aus, die eine große Anhängerschaft findet? Welchen Jargon pflegt sie? Gibt es bestimmte ästhetische Qualitäten, die ihren ›Appeal‹ bestimmen und den Grad der Zustimmung beeinflussen? Welche affektiven Valenzen (Ängste, Lüste) transportiert eine Theorie – möglicherweise unerkannt – mit? Welche Aversionen legt sie offen? Gelingt es, mit diesen Fragen einen neuen Blick auf die spezifischen Durchsetzungsmechanismen von Theorien und damit auf Wissenschaft zu gewinnen? Mit Beiträgen von: Lorenz Engell, Gerd Gigerenzer, Joachim Küpper, Gert Mattenklott, Helmut Pape, Mirjam Schaub, Marianne Schuller u. a.