Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2007, Germanic Languages and Literatures

"Continuation, Avoidance, Renewal: The Discourse of German Writers on America in the Wake of September 11, 2001" This dissertation seeks to contribute to studies of the German perception of "America" at the beginning of the 21st century by analyzing the reactions of eight German authors to the terror attacks of September 11. By using the attacks as a probe for the continuation or modification of a long-lasting discourse on the United States of America and their role in the world, I give fresh insights into the (changing) view of the "New World" in a post-unified Germany. First, I provide an overview of the historical ambivalences of “America” in the German discourse since the 18th century. Then, I analyze the reactions of the eight writers, four of them being younger and less known, four of them being rather renowned and distinguished, often dubbed as "usual suspects" when it comes to commenting public affairs. The first group did not publish any commentaries on the terror attacks. Instead, Kathrin Roeggla, Else Buschheuer, Durs Gruenbein, and Max Goldt published some form of a diary to express their immediate impressions and feelings. In contrast, Peter Schneider, Hans Christoph Buch, Guenter Grass and Hans Magnus Enzensberger made use of the mass media in order to comment on the terror attacks and to assess the consequences. By comparing and close reading the texts of these authors, I bring attention to the continuity and the ruptures in the underlying narratives on "America". As my systemization suggests, three strands of a discourse on the United States can be identified. While the reactions of three authors show a very ambivalent and emotional attitude toward the United States, which is more or less open to traditional sentiments, another three authors consciously try to avoid those patterns, displaying an intentional indifference and sobriety. However, only a minority of two authors opens new perspectives by promoting a critical, yet unexcited image of "Americ (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Bernd Fischer (Advisor) Subjects: Literature, Germanic

MA, University of Cincinnati, 2005, Arts and Sciences : Germanic Languages and Literature

The German reunification in 1990, a political and historical turning point, produced a literary vacuum, in which the younger generation of writers stood a chance of becoming accepted by a big readership. One of these newcomers is the East German Thomas Brussig. His novel Helden wie wir (Heroes like us) has since its publication in 1995 been acclaimed as one of the most important contemporary German novels. Recounting the German reunification from a sexual point of view, it tells the story of the pervert Klaus Uhltzscht who brings down the Berlin Wall with his penis. Sexuality embodies the East German society's struggle between freedom and ideological bondage. Helden wie wir also deals with the relationship between Germany and the United States. We see today's United States as a sanctuary and mainstay for Germany's history. Brussig refers to the American dream, democracy and freedom, interweaving voices of American politicians like Ronald Reagan and using American culture as a foil for his protagonist Klaus. In my analysis of Helden wie wir I focus on sexuality and America. In my analysis of sexuality I follow the references in the novel itself – Freudian theories, the East German sex therapist Siegfried Schnabel, and works by Christa Wolf. I also include works not explicitly mentioned in the novel but which yield further insight into Brussig's understanding of sexuality, Philip Roth's novel Portnoy's Complaint and Thomas Laqueur's Making Sex. I try to explore sexuality further by working out special aspects, like the division of sexuality in East and West, the penis as symbol, and the language of sex. In the chapter on American ideas I include political statements of American presidents as a historical account of the reunification by the German historian Manfred Gortemaker. Besides other historical analyses and scholarly literature about the picture of America in German literature, the view of the Western world in Christa Wolf's works is juxtaposed with Helden wie w (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Dr. Katharina Gerstenberger (Advisor) Subjects: Literature, Germanic