EXPLORING THE USE AND ABUSE OF MYTH IN THE SHAPING OF CULTURE AND IDENTITY:

GERMANY IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES

 

Overview of the Immersion

One of the main objects of Bard Mythologies is to help in the understanding of the archetypal and mythic roots of Culture. What drives this is that some of those who are most effective at the use of cultural myths in the last two centuries have been autocratic strong men such as
Hitler, Mussolini and more recently Trump and Putin. We will primarily be working with the Nibelung but will take an occasional foray into the world of the Grimm Brothers. What we will look at in this series is the Mythic History of Germany in the 19th and 20th Centuries. We will explore the development of the playbook of these tyrannical figures during this period of history. We will also consider the role of emergent media such as radio, television and film as well as print media. We will also continue our exploration of Myth and Trauma and Intergenerational Trauma with input from Barbara Fitzgerald

ABOUT PETER WUCHERFENNIG

The Bard Myth Teller for the program is a long time Bard friend. Peter is an Entertainer whose live performances are unique events that combine Harp and Oral Storytelling. He has prepared, with some trepidation, his own version and telling of the great German epic. He is keeping alive the Minnesinger tradition of the Middle Ages and challenging Walter Benjamin – storytelling is not dead!

ABOUT EDA SAGARRA

Eda was a  professor in German Studies at Trinity College Dublin. She will help design and guide us through the Program. She is the author  A Social History of Germany 1648-1914  and an An introduction to Nineteenth Century  Germany. As one of the world’s top academics in the field we are delighted to have her with us.

 The Telling of the NibelungKey Historical/ Cultural MomentsTraumas and the Deep Emotions
IIntroduction to the Nibelung and The Dragon SlayerBrief overview of German History the Holy Roman Empire & the Thirty Years WarDespair and Hopelessness from years of War and Plaques
2The King of the Nibelungs and At Court of WormsGermany and the Napoleonic Wars  early C19th  + Influence of French RevolutionShame and the humiliation of the Napoleonic Invasion
3The Wooing of BrunhildMetternich and years of repression under a monarchical societyFear – a widespread system of spies and censorship to suppress
4The War of the Wives Rape and TreasonRevolutions, especially 1848/9 & its consequences. German National Unity MovementAnger about the repressive policies and consequent revoltuions
5Siegfried´s EndPrussian Hegemony, Wars of Unification, Austro Prussian War + massive industrialisationExcitement – real sense of progress, Customs Union, Railways,  industrailisation
6 The Cursed Treasure and  Vibrations of doomBismark and Wilhelm II Germany as a world power. State plays a big role + Reasons for the First World WarHatred and Despair Consensus vs Catholics, Jews and Socialists Pride and Arrogance from military economic success
 7RevengeThe Loss of the First World War and the ‘stab in the back’ myth… the Blame GameShame and Blame after the failure of the first WW
8Re-Tellings and Re-FramingsExploring the Use and Abuse of Cultural Myths and the matter of Intergenerational TraumaHope and Inspiration. We will hope to gain much insight from this hugely important exploration.

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