You are cordially invited to a lecture by
William C. Donahue (Notre Dame)
Religion in Realism: Contra Downing
In numerous critical treatments of German "poetic realism"--a genre of perhaps questionable validity--religion comes off as a bit of an embarrassment. I argue that it has not been adequately accounted for in some of the genre's best-known authors and works. It is no longer convincing to restrict religion--usually, but not always, Christianity--to the part of repressive or quietistic ideology. To pursue this point, I review some of my own prior work in this area, and then focus on Stifter's famous "Vorrede" as well as the story that introduces the beloved anthology Bunte Steine, "Granit." Specifically, I argue that Downing seriously misconstrues Stifter's central understanding of religion, and that Downing's influential study, Double Exposures (2000), prejudices the reading of religion in this and other specimens of the genre.
My longer-term goal is a manuscript (far too long in progress) that seeks to appreciate what I hold to be the constitutive role religion in key specimens of poetic realism. I will bring arguments, but also questions and a good bit of unfinished business.
