The connection between disease and creativity was perhaps never so close as in Vienna between 1880 and 1930. In the Austrian empire in decay arts and science were at its best. Famous artists and scientists like Hugo von Hoffmanstahl, Sigmund Freud, Elias Canetti, Gustav Klimt, Gustav Mahler, Arnold Schönberg, Robert Musil, Egon Schiele, Arthur Schnitzler and Ludwig Wittgenstein all lived in this era.
An important part of the five days course Disease and madness in Vienna consists of novels, stories and films from this period. But also more modern times are present in the work of Thomas Bernhard. And because the course is in Vienna, we will visit several places, amoung which the museum for art from psychiatric patients in Gugging, the Freud museum and Baumgärtner Höhe, and we will make literary walks.
Some examples of novels we discuss are:
- Irvin Yalom: When Nietzsche wept
- Michael Kumpfmuller: Die Herrlichkeit des Lebens
- Thomas Bernhard: Wittgesteins Neffe
- Stefan Zweig: Unruhe
- Arthur Schnitzler: Fraulein Else, Traumnovelle (and Stanley Kubricks Eyes wide shut)
- Heinar Kipphardt: März
This course is only available on demand. It is possible to organize the course for a group of minimum 10 and maximum of 25 people. This can be done in a way that you have influence on the moment, the content and the length of the course. In English or German is also possible! If you are interested please contact Arko Oderwald via the contact form or e-mail (see under contact)