Research Catalog
Of writers and workers : the movement of writing workers in East Germany
- Title
- Of writers and workers : the movement of writing workers in East Germany / William J. Waltz.
- Author
- Waltz, William J., 1963-
- Publication
- Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, [2018]
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| Status | Format | Access | Call Number | Item Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Available - Can be used on site. Please visit New York Public Library - Schwarzman Building to submit a request in person. | Book/Text | Use in library | JFD 19-717 | Schwarzman Building - Main Reading Room 315 |
Details
- Description
- xiv, 248 pages : illustrations; 23 cm.
- Summary
- "Born of the dream of fostering a new caste of writers from working-class ranks, the 'Movement of Writing Workers' (Bewegung schreibender Arbeiter) offers a paradigmatic view of the successes and failures of attempts to implement a socialist cultural revolution in the German Democratic Republic (GDR). The abstract tenets of Marxist teleology and state-sponsored program ascribed to 'writing workers' a central position in the efforts to overcome class divisions, educational privilege and, ultimately, the distinctions between workers and intellectuals, art and labour. This study, based largely on original archival research, traces the historical background and development of this major cultural initiative. It undermines the notion of servile obedience to Soviet direction in East German cultural affairs and displays the discrepancies between the official rhetoric of the ruling communist party and the realities of popular cultural participation. While there existed over 200 'Circles of Writing Workers' in the GDR - also known as 'socialist literary salons' - the four case studies featured here highlight their diversity and stake out the broad parameters of state-sponsored literary production in East Germany"--
- Series Statement
- German life and civilization; vol. 69
- Uniform Title
- German life and civilization ; v. 69.
- Subjects
- German literature
- German literature > Study and teaching
- Working class writings, German
- Literature and society
- Communist literature
- History
- German literature > Study and teaching > Germany (East) > History
- Working class writings, German > Germany (East) > History
- German literature > Germany (East) > History and criticism
- Literature and society > Germany (East) > History
- Communist literature > Germany (East) > History
- Criticism, interpretation, etc
- Germany (East)
- Genre/Form
- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
- History.
- Bibliography (note)
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Contents
- Theoretical underpinnings: between myth and reality -- The question of Soviet influence -- Cultural heritage and political legitimacy -- A socialist culture: according to plan -- Establishing state structures and consolidating political power in the 1950s -- Culture by decree: the twelve point plan -- Klassenkampf and Volkskunst: compromises and concessions in the early 1960s -- Achieving success -- The District of Halle: cradle of the BSA -- On the nature of circle work -- The BSA between social revolution and popular participation -- "Unorganized" amateur writers outside the state fold -- Future research on the BSA.
- Call Number
- JFD 19-717
- ISBN
- 9781788744973
- 1788744977
- LCCN
- 2018033342
- OCLC
- 1051778795
- Author
- Waltz, William J., 1963- author.
- Title
- Of writers and workers : the movement of writing workers in East Germany / William J. Waltz.
- Publisher
- Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, [2018]
- Type of Content
- text
- Type of Medium
- unmediated
- Type of Carrier
- volume
- Series
- German life and civilization; vol. 69German life and civilization ; v. 69.
- Bibliography
- Includes bibliographical references and index.
- Other Form:
- Electronic version: Waltz, William J., 1963- Of writers and workers. Oxford ; New York : Peter Lang, [2018] 9781788744980 (OCoLC)1079363794
- Research Call Number
- JFD 19-717