VALUE AND KITSCH IN THE DEATH OF VIRGIL

Authors

  • Isabel González Gil Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Keywords:

Value Theory, Kitsch, Hermann Broch, Virgil, Imitation, Aeneid

Abstract

The following article studies the plot logic of the novel Der Tod des Vergil, in the context of Hermann Broch’s value theory and his considerations about kitsch in art and society in the first half of the 20th century. First of all, we propose moving past the romantic interpretation of the novel to focus on the circumstances under which the story was written at the prison of Bad Aussee, and the fusion of author and character. For that purpose, we suggest paying special attention to the regularity of the book’s composition, and the prevalence of ideas and symbols over facts. Furthermore, we approach some main notions of the aesthetics and ethics of Hermann Broch, such as his concepts of value, kitsch, and the opposition between literary creation and imitation. Finally, we analyze the ethos of value in some key scenes of the novel, in particular Virgil´s journey and the crucial decision to burn the Aeneid.

Author Biography

Isabel González Gil, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Profesora asociada, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

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Published

2015-01-31

How to Cite

González Gil, I. (2015). VALUE AND KITSCH IN THE DEATH OF VIRGIL. 452ºF. Revista De Teoría De La Literatura Y Literatura Comparada, (12), 154–166. Retrieved from https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/452f/article/view/11497

Issue

No. 12 (2015): The History of Theory and its Hispanic uses

Section

Miscellaneous

License

All contents published in the journal are protected under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license. This corresponds to legislation within Spain, and does not allow commercial use of the texts. It is not possible to modify the contents either.

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Comparative Literature magazine 452ºF [ISSN 2013-3294] is a publishing project coordinated by Asociación Cultural 452ºF, and developed by its Editorial board.



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