Gegen den Tag

[rich]

Syberberg, who directed Hitler: A Film from Germany, also directed a
film about Karl May, one of Hitler's favorite authors growing up.

rich

On Jan 28, 2008 4:07 PM, Thomas Eckhardt <thomas.eckhardt at uni-bonn.de> wrote:
> Karl May wrote adventure stories for boys, yes, but not boys' adventure
> stories. I cannot remember Pynchon mentioning him in one of his novels,
> but May would fit perfectly into GR. Stingl mentioned that he had tried
> Friedrich Gerstäcker (a huge influence on Karl May) but that it didn't
> work. Heinz Ickstadt sensibly remarked that any book must succeed on its
> own terms, whether in translation or in the original language,
> regardless of whether the reader is familiar with the texts imitated.
> The difficulty of translating parody or pastiche was one of the many
> interesting topics of the evening.
>
> I agree with Kai on all counts. In my own, a little rushed words:
> Kittler was the mad scientist who may or may not have found the key to
> AtD, except that I know next to nothing about mathematics.  Stingl read
> remarkably good for a man who had recently spent a lot of time alone at
> his desk. His thoughts on the translation process provided much insight.
> Denis Scheck was his usual knowledgeable and competent self. His special
> interest in Pynchon showed. Heinz Ickstadt, who almost single-handedly
> introduced Pynchon to German academia in the 70s and 80s, personified
> what literary criticism at its best can be: He was precise without being
> pedantic, professional without disavowing subjective impressions and
> experiences, and, of course, highly competent.
>
> All in all, I would have preferred a little more Ickstadt and a little
> less Kittler. But that's just me.
>
> Thomas
>