Modern German political drama, 1980-2000 / Birgit Haas.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haas, Birgit, author.

Series:

Studies in German Literature Linguistics and Culture ; 1

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

German drama--20th century--History and criticism.

German drama.

Political plays, German--History and criticism.

Political plays, German.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 239 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Suffolk : Boydell & Brewer, 2003.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The last two decades of the 20th century gave rise to a renaissance in the genre of the political drama in Germany. Although political drama has always been a mainstay of German literature, it has been of particular significance during the years surrounding the 'Wende', or reunification, of 1989. This book is the first comprehensive study of politically engaged German drama writing in the 1980s and 1990s, covering the works of key playwrights during the period and providing an analysis of oppositional theater before and after reunification. It treats the range of current political topics and their repercussions in drama writing, including reunification, women's issues, the media, politicized environmentalism and the Greens, and right-wing radicalism. In addition to established playwrights such as Heinar Kipphardt, Franz Xaver Kroetz, and Heiner Müller, the book looks at the younger generation of playwrights: writers such as Oliver Bukowski, Dea Loher, Marius von Mayenburg, Albert Ostermaier, and Theresia Walser. It gives an overview of recent German political drama through analysis of more than forty contemporary plays, clearly tracing connections between politics and theater. Each chapter is preceded by a short introduction into the respective political topic, providing the framework for the study of drama as a political tool and making it easy for students to see the multiple ways in which plays respond to political change. This book will be of interest to students and scholars in drama and theater studies and German literature. Birgit Haas teaches in the German Department at the University of Heidelberg.

Contents:

pt. 1. The 1980s

Outcasts

Green Issues

The memory of the Holocaust

The decay of the GDR

pt. 2. The 1990s

Reflections on German reunification

Women in society today

Terrorism in Germany

Right-wing radicalism in Germany after reunification

Media and politics.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 02 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-281-74130-2

9786611741303

1-57113-634-7

OCLC:

260059039