'Antique' dramas by Heiner Müller. Adaptation of myths of a new dramatic aesthetics
Journal Title: Collectanea Philologica - Year 2014, Vol 0, Issue
Abstract
The work of Heiner Müller is in its genre a unique phenomenon in German language literature. It was an export product of the GDR, in spite of the author’s problems with censorship. West German critics saw in Müller a precursor of post-modernist drama. The author himself operated between two artistic worlds making equal use of both with relative freedom, as he was recognised by the political culture of East Germany at the same time as his art enjoyed popularity in West Germany. An important part of his production were the adaptations of famous works of world literature, above all the ancient tragedies and Shakespeare’s plays. One can consider these works as an attempt to indicate political and social problems which Müller – although a convinced communist – recognised in GDR “social realism”. The forms of parable and allusion were a frequently employed artistic niche in the GDR allowing the avoidance of censorship. On the other hand, Müller was seen as a spiritual descendant of Brecht – the founder of engaged theatre. The poetic method of the GDR writer will be presented on the basis of three plays in which Müller adopted well-known mythological themes: Philoctetes and Waterfront Wasteland Medea Material Landscape with Argonauts. The first part of this paper will use the paradigmatic example of a tragic conflict, namely the short drama: Der Horatier: Horatius. The thesis of this paper is that in his plays myth serves Müller for its “process of alienation” (Verfremdungseffekt). He does not adapt myths but rather cites them as archetypical examples reoccurring in situations of society which equally expose the cynical and pragmatic GDR system as they do “Western” instrumental values aiming towards increased profits – in whatever sphere of activity.
Authors and Affiliations
Joanna Jabłkowska
Keywords
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