Die Poetologie der 'Blaetter fuer die Kunst': Formalaesthetische Untersuchung zum Dichtungsverstaendnis der Zeitschrift des George-Kreises

Stefan George's journal Blätter für die Kunst is intended to serve he arts in general and poetry in particular. Poetical, and not theoretical, works illustrate this programme. Despite the supposed absence of theoretical comments, the Blätter für die Kunst contain several contributions dealing with theory. Some of these texts, especially the well-known “Einleitungen” and “Merksprüche”, display their explanatory function in the title already.;In this thesis I will draw the poetological theory of the Blätter für die Kunst from both the “Einleitungen” and “Merksprüche” as well as the other related texts. In the second part of my thesis I will interpret a selection of poetological poems in order to analyse how theory is put into practice.;In my analysis of the poetological theory I will focus on three aspects: (1) The hierarchy within the arts: The Blätter für die Kunst argue for a pre-eminence of poetry. On the one hand poetry is meant to mediate between literature, music and the fine arts and, on the other hand, to bring about the renewal of drama and fiction. (2) The attitude towards tradition: The Blätter für die Kunst defy naturalism and epigonism. Instead, they argue for literary classicism and demand a literature that is marked by a severity of form and style. (3) The relationship between art and life: Art is supposed to unveil eternal truth and is therefore of social relevance. As ‘true art’ can only be experienced by a few, the Blätter für die Kunst are directed at an exclusive audience. This small circle, however, is meant to be the origin of a large-scale cultural renewal.