Envisioning Social Justice in Contemporary German Culture

Explores how contemporary German-language literary, dramatic, filmic, musical, and street artists are grappling in their works with social-justice issues that affect Germany and the wider world.Social-injustice dilemmas such as poverty, unemployment, and racism are subjects of continuing debate in European societies and in Germany in particular, as solutions are difficult and progress often comes slowly. Such discussionsare not limited to opposing newspaper editorials, position papers, or legislative forums, however; creative works expound on these topics as well, but their contributions to the debate are often marginalized.This collectionof new essays explores how contemporary German-language literary, dramatic, filmic, musical, and street artists are grappling with social-justice issues that affect Germany and the wider world, surveying more than a decade's worth of works of German literature and art in light of the recent paradigm shift in cultural criticism called the "ethical turn." Central themes include the legacy of the politically engaged 1968 generation, eastern Germany and the process of unification, widening economic disparity as a result of political policies and recession, and problems of integration and inclusivity for ethnic and religious minorities as migration to Germany has increased.Contributors: Monika Albrecht, Olaf Berwald, Robert Blankenship, Laurel Cohen-Pfister, Jack Davis, Bastian Heinsohn, Axel Hildebrandt, Deborah Janson, Karolin Machtans, Ralf Remshardt, Alexandra Simon-Lopez, Patricia Anne Simpson,Maria Stehle, Jill E. Twark.Jill E. Twark is Associate Professor of German at East Carolina University. Axel Hildebrandt is Associate Professor of German at Moravian College.

“[P]resents detailed and thought-provoking close readings . . . . The discussed works of German-speaking authors, artists and scholars show the . . . social problems that linger in post-wall Germany, notwithstanding its recovered economy. The book reveals these unresolved problems to a wider global audience and will undoubtedly stimulate further investigations in that direction.”

[N]eatly edited and deftly introduced . . . . [A]n innovative contribution to contemporary German Studies which invites emulation from others. It is not all about literature any more, that is for sure. And there is a sense of ethics at the heart of the state and society at large which is certainly worth studying. -- Julian Preece JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
-- Angela Vaupel JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY EUROPEAN STUDIES
Ambitious in scope, this innovative interdisciplinary book provides a valuable resource for scholars and students of German studies and a timely contribution to discussions of ethics and social justice. It intervenes in signiificant ways in current debates on immigration, integration, and the rise of Islamophobia in Germany and Europe. -- Valentina Glajar MONATSHEFTE

Deborah Janson is an associate professor of German at West Virginia University JACK DAVIS is Associate Professor of German at Truman State University, Missouri.. MARIA STEHLE is Professor of German and Cinema Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. OLAF BERWALD is Department Chair of World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures and Professor of German at Middle Tennessee State University. PATRICIA ANNE SIMPSON is Professor of German at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. ROBERT BLANKENSHIP is Assistant Professor at California State University, Long Beach.

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