Gegenständlichkeit der "neuen, alle meine Möglichkeiten versammelnden Form": Die Text-Bild-Bände von Günter Grass

Abstract

Title: Gegenständlichkeit der neuen, alle meine Möglichkeiten versammelnden Form : Die Text-Bild-Bände von Günter GrassEnglish title: Gegenständlichkeit of the new form that allows me to link and combine all my possibilities : Günter Grass text-picture-booksAuthor: Katja StandfussLanguage: GermanDepartment: Department of German and Dutch, Göteborg University, Box 200, SE-405 30 GöteborgThis study focuses on Günter Grass concept of Gegenständlichkeit in the context of his genre-crossing work in both literature and art. The concept of Gegenständlichkeit discussed by Grass in several essays and in novels acts as a foil to his work. The role of Gegenständlichkeit is examined in two steps: firstly Günter Grass own concept of art is presented; and secondly five Grass-books, as a special form of the concept of Gegenständlichkeit , are analysed. The so-called Text-Bild-Bände contain both literary texts and visual artwork. Grass calls this the neue, alle meine Möglichkeiten versammelnde Form (Fünf Jahrzehnte. Ein Werkstattbericht). The first part of this study deals with Grass visual artwork as a continuous part of his production. In the second part Grass understanding of Gegenständlichkeit and art as inclusive concepts of artistic skill are analysed, as well as the author s social-political commitment. This is achieved by analyzing two speeches: Vom Stillstand im Fortschritt. Variationen zu Albrecht Dürers Kupferstich Melencolia I (1971) and Der Traum der Vernunft (1984), the latter discussing ideas of the Enlightenment period in relation to Goya s aquatinta etching El sueño de la razón produce monstrous . The third and central part of this study focuses on the five text-picture-books in the order of date of publication: Zunge zeigen (1988), Totes Holz (1990), Fundsachen für Nichtleser (1997), Mein Jahrhundert (1999) und Letzte Tänze (2003). Zunge zeigen, being Grass first text-picture-book, is given special analytical attention, not only because it is the first one: It is also the one with the most stringent performance. The analysis of all of Grass Text-Bild-Bände shows that the combination of the literary text and the visual artwork in each text-picture-book are composed specifically for each book, including the design of the physical book as a product. Grass uses pictures and text within one book to put the main subject of his interest into different perspectives. Different artforms, different literary genres and different forms of composition are used within a Text-Bild-Band . Art for Grass includes different ways of artistic expression. Each technique and literary genre is used for its unique expression. But Grass also crosses the borders between the arts and genres to expand his possibilities of expression.Key words and names: Günter Grass, Kunst (art), Literatur (literature), Text (text), Bild (picture), Gattung (genre), Gegenständlichkeit, Aufklärung (enlightenment), Melancholie (melancholy), Schuld und Scham (guilt and shame), Geschichte (history), Ethik und Handeln (ethics and action)