Textpraxis # 6

1.2013

In this current issue, Barbara Mariacher focuses on Elfriede Jelineks poetological concept, Falk Bornmüller examines the epistemological value of literature based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Goethe’s Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, and Klaus-Michael Bogdal outlines the benefits of ›soft‹ theories for the humanities. In the ›debate‹ section, Klaus Oidtmann and Paul Stadelhofer analyse the economic and philosophical use of competence, based on Jürgen Gunia’s article in Textpraxis # 4.

Literature and Society

BarbaraMariacher

Die Sprache als »Werkstück«

Überlegungen zu Elfriede Jelineks poetologischem Konzept am Beispiel des Theaterstückes »Stecken, Stab und Stangl« (1996)

In her article, the author deals with Elfriede Jelinek’s poetological concept, based on the example of the play Stecken, Stab und Stangl (1996). This involves a short substantive and historical introduction to the concept of language and text as well as author and work, which is taken from a theoretical perspective closely related to Roland Barthes. The center of attention is the ideology-critical potential, which is characterized by Jelinek's method, and the role of the recipient, from which an active reception position is demanded.

Theories of Literary Study

FalkBornmüller

›All for nothing?‹

Die symbolische Darstellungs- und Erkenntnisform als philosophische und literaturtheoretische Herausforderung

Both literary studies and philosophy are equally confronted with the question of how to deal with the ›knowledge medium‹ literature and how to integrate it into one’s own cognitive interest. The epistemological relationship between literature and philosophy should hereby not be understood as strictly dichotomous, and cannot be reduced to the formula propositional vs. non-propositional. Rather, an epistemological value of literature is to be assumed, which is not met by a binary approach. Based on central scenes from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Goethe’s Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, the symbolic representation and knowledge form of literature is worked out as an act of cognition, as a reproducing understanding.

Literary Studies and Praxis

Klaus-MichaelBogdal

Anleitung zum Erlernen des Ungenauen. Die Leistung ›weicher‹ Theorien in den Geisteswissenschaften

Vortrag im Rahmen der Master Class der Graduate School ›Practices of Literature‹ in Münster am 21.11.2012

In his lecture on November 21, 2012 at the University of Münster, Klaus-Michael Bogdal posits the concept of co-called ›soft‹ theories for the humanities. Whereas in the 1960s it seemed that ›hard‹ formalistic and linguistic theory models would be established in literary studies, an era of »After Theory« (Terry Eagleton) is postulated in the present. Bogdal’s approach moderates these two poles to a pragmatic theory formation, which is able to bring the modes of proving, persuading, teaching and dialoguing together.

Debate

Literary Studies and Praxis

KlausOidtmannPaulStadelhofer

Die ideologische Reichweite des Kompetenzbegriffs

Eine Wortmeldung

Based on Jürgen Gunia’s »Versuch einer genealogischen Ideologiekritik« regarding the term competence in Textpraxis # 4, Klaus Oidtmann and Paul Stadelhofer investigate the economic and philosophic usage of competence. The authors underline the necessity to differentiate between economically shortened individuals and fee, educated citizens.

Editorial

Textpraxis continues to reflect upon the role of literary studies by interrogating its potential for political and social critique. The diverse perspectives presented by the articles in Issue #6 attest to this premise from the philosophical analysis of Goethe’s »Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship« to the questions of authorship in the work of Elfriede Jelinek. In addition, Klaus-Michael Bogdal’s lecture on the merits of ›soft‹ theory in literary studies further touch upon concerns about the critical potential of literary studies, as does the response article on the concept of ›competence‹ as discussed by Jürgen Gunia in Textpraxis # 4. Textpraxis specializes in bringing together studies that examine this engagement of and with literary and cultural productions, paying particular consideration to connections between the literary and the social, the theatrical and the epistemological, and the textual and the economic.

As Textpraxis continues to grow, we look for ways to engage with more scholars world-wide. Part of this effort involves increasing the ›findability‹ of our articles. For instance, a Google search for »Raabe Moderne Diskurs« will lead you straight to Natalie Moser’s 2010 article. We also turn up on searches performed using World Cat, and our articles are additionally listed with the DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals). We look forward to appearing in the BDSL and the MLA catalogues soon, as well!

As always, in the spirit of open-access, Textpraxis provides a forum for dialogue between authors and readers. In order to facilitate this dialogue, each article has a comments section that allows for readers to share ideas or connections immediately. Textpraxis also encourages readers to submit longer and more detailed response to an article, such as the response by Klaus Oidtmann and Paul Stadelhofer in this issue. We hope that you will take advantage of these opportunities and contribute to the conversation.

Lastly, the editors would like to thank Fabian Pommerenke for all his motivation and hard work as Textpraxis’s first intern.

Happy reading!

Sincerely,
The Textpraxis editorial board

Imprint

Textpraxis #6 (1.2013) has been published on May 1 2013.

Editorial Team:
Seth Berk
Dominic Büker
Pegah Byroum-Wand
Nina Gawe
Gesche Gerdes
Japhet Johnstone
Innokentij Kreknin
Christoph Pflaumbaum
Fabian Pommerenke
Matthias Schaffrick
Kerstin Wilhelms

Reviewers:
Dr. Jeanine Tuschling (Klassik Stiftung Weimar)
Sebastian Meixner, M.A. (Tübingen)

Cover image: Christian Schmitt

ISSN 2191-8236