Pascale LaFountain (Montclair State University)

This panel seeks to bring together scholars of literature, philosophy, history, art history, theology, musicology and/or related humanistic disciplines to discuss how humor shaped, and was shaped by, German Romanticism.

German Romantics used comedy, parody, satire, transcendental irony, and other humoristic techniques not only to entertain audiences in new ways, but also to provoke political debate, teach, tread new creative ground, and philosophize in ways that balance the sharpness of intellect with the acuity of wit particular to their age. In many ways, while one might consider the Enlightenment the Age of Reason, one might consider Romanticism the Age of Humor, be it dark, bawdy, provocative, seemingly nonsensical, or otherwise.

Building on the influence of the newly launched Routledge book series, “Humor in Literature and Culture,” edited by Shun-Liang Chao and Vivienne Westbrook, this panel takes a thoroughly interdisciplinary approach to humor, capitalizing on the ways that this concept in its broadest sense can bring together works from a variety of literary genres, as well as other media and art forms growing in popularity in German-speaking lands in the first half of the nineteenth century.

Potential topics might include, but are not limited to:

- New readings of canonical or less canonical comedic literary or poetic works.

- Analyses of operas, Lieder, folksongs, or other musical pieces that use humorous elements to attain particular impact.

- Considerations of humoristic techniques, characters, and commentaries.

- Comparative contributions that juxtapose German Romantic humor with that of other national cultures or historical periods.

- Discussions of the effectiveness of various humoristic techniques across genres and media.

German Romantics use wit, comedy, parody, satire, irony, and other humoristic techniques not only to entertain audiences in new ways, but also to provoke political debate, teach, tread new creative ground, and philosophize. Building on established discussions of “Witz” as a philosophical concept, this panel seeks to bring together scholars of literature, philosophy, history, art history, theology, musicology and/or related humanistic disciplines to discuss how humor in a larger sense shaped, and was shaped by, German Romanticism. Potential topics might include new readings of comedic works, analyses of humorous operas or folksongs, comparative considerations, philosophical considerations, or discussions of humoristic technique across genres and media.