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Kategorie: Miszellen | Miscellany

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Erinnerung an die Zukunft: Naturgeschichte, Phantasie und Zeitverschachtelung in Kotzebues “Reise der Nase nach” (1818)

What can a supposedly prehistoric insect, discovered in a block of coal, tell us about the future of humanity? In an overlooked passage from his final travel writing, August von Kotzebue turns a museum curiosity into a bold meditation on time, memory and human transience. This blog post by Rolf Haaser revisits a forgotten episode from 1818 and shows how Kotzebue anticipates modern ideas of a “memory of the future” long before they had a name.

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August von Kotzebues transnationales Erbe und die intersektionale Literaturgeschichtsschreibung

A fresh look at August von Kotzebue reveals how deeply transnational, mobile and complex the literary landscape around 1800 truly was. This new article challenges the narrow canon of “Weimar Classicism” by tracing Kotzebue’s international impact, his hybrid dramatic forms, and the gendered networks that shaped his reception. By approaching his career through an intersectional lens, it opens a path toward a more inclusive and European literary historiography. Presented at the GSA Seminar “Literaturgeschichte intersektional weiterschreiben” (Arlington, VA, 2025), the piece invites readers to rethink what—and who—belongs at the centre of literary history.

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Verkleidet zurück: Odysseus und die Wiederkehr des Mythos bei Kotzebue

What happens when a long-lost husband steps out of the shadows—at a masked ball? In “Die Masken” (1813), August von Kotzebue transforms Homer’s Odysseus into a colonial returnee and places Penelope among the suitors once more. This blog post “Masked Returns and Mythical Echoes: Odysseus Reimagined “ explores Kotzebue’s rich and ironic reworkings of the homecoming motif, tracing explicit references to Penelope across his plays and prose. From theatrical disguises to literary homage, Kotzebue invites us to reencounter ancient myth in the domestic dramas of modernity.

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Heute vor 264 Jahren kam August von Kotzebue in Weimar zur Welt

Following our literary walk marking the 264th birthday of August von Kotzebue, we are pleased to share the introductory remarks delivered at the start of the event. This brief text offers an overview of the playwright’s life, work, and legacy, placing him within the broader context of cultural memory—a chance to revisit the opening for those who attended, and an invitation to reflect for those who could not join.

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August von Kotzebue vs. Gall, oder: Erlaubt ist was gefällt? 8. Etappe

In der neuen Folge des mehrteiligen Beitrages zu der Komödie „Organe des Gehirns“ geht Frieder Sondermann auf die kontroverse öffentliche Wahrnehmung von Franz Joseph Galls Schädellehre ein. Anhand historischer Episoden beleuchtet er Galls Vortragstourneen in Süddeutschland und der Schweiz sowie die mediale Resonanz in Form von Presseberichten, Karikaturen und satirischen Darstellungen. Im Mittelpunkt stehen insbesondere kritische Reaktionen, beispielsweise in Paris, wo Galls Lehre mit Ironie und Skepsis aufgenommen wurde. Sondermann zeigt, wie unterschiedliche kulturelle Kreise Galls Ideen verhandelten und reflektiert, welche gesellschaftlichen Debatten über Moral, Wissenschaft und Popularität damit verbunden waren.

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Kotzebue durch Nietzsches Augen: „Das eigentliche Theatertalent der Deutschen“ und die Perspektiven der Forschung

The blog post “Kotzebue through Nietzsche’s Eyes” builds on the insights of our previous publication, which presented Friedrich Nietzsche’s surprising appreciation of August von Kotzebue as “the genuine theatrical talent of the Germans.” This follow-up examines how Nietzsche’s remarks have been received and interpreted in scholarly debates from 1950 to the present. By drawing on both well-known and overlooked sources, the post offers a synthesis that highlights Nietzsche’s critique of the German cultural elite, his reflections on taste and authenticity, and the role of theatre in society. It aims to provide a foundation for further discussion and research.