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Denkanstösse
German
173 pages, Perfect Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
About the author
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
403 books1,055 followersFriedrich Dürrenmatt (1921 – 1990) was a Swiss author and dramatist.
Dürrenmatt was born in the Emmental (canton of Bern), the son of a Protestant pastor. His grandfather Ulrich Dürrenmatt was a conservative politician. The family moved to Bern in 1935. Dürrenmatt began to study philosophy and German language and literature at the University of Zurich in 1941, but moved to the University of Bern after one semester. In 1943 he decided to become an author and dramatist and dropped his academic career. In 1945-46, he wrote his first play, "It is written". On October 11 1946 he married actress Lotti Geissler. She died in 1983 and Dürrenmatt was married again to another actress, Charlotte Kerr, the following year.
He was a proponent of epic theater whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author gained fame largely due to his avant-garde dramas, philosophically deep crime novels, and often macabre satire. One of his leading sentences was: "A story is not finished, until it has taken the worst turn". Dürrenmatt was a member of the Gruppe Olten.
Dürrenmatt was born in the Emmental (canton of Bern), the son of a Protestant pastor. His grandfather Ulrich Dürrenmatt was a conservative politician. The family moved to Bern in 1935. Dürrenmatt began to study philosophy and German language and literature at the University of Zurich in 1941, but moved to the University of Bern after one semester. In 1943 he decided to become an author and dramatist and dropped his academic career. In 1945-46, he wrote his first play, "It is written". On October 11 1946 he married actress Lotti Geissler. She died in 1983 and Dürrenmatt was married again to another actress, Charlotte Kerr, the following year.
He was a proponent of epic theater whose plays reflected the recent experiences of World War II. The politically active author gained fame largely due to his avant-garde dramas, philosophically deep crime novels, and often macabre satire. One of his leading sentences was: "A story is not finished, until it has taken the worst turn". Dürrenmatt was a member of the Gruppe Olten.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 21, 2023
A short collection excerpts and aphorisms selected mostly--but not exclusively--from Dürrenmatt's writings on politics, philosophy, theater, art and culture. Three that seem particularly relevant today:
"One who wants to hide a great scandal should stage a small one."
"The catastrophes are greater, the crimes more terrible and laws more draconian."
"Ideologies are excuses to keep power, or pretexts to acquire power."
"One who wants to hide a great scandal should stage a small one."
"The catastrophes are greater, the crimes more terrible and laws more draconian."
"Ideologies are excuses to keep power, or pretexts to acquire power."
April 30, 2020
Immer wieder gut. Und auch, wenn es den Studierenden an den Universitäten nur als "Dürrenmatts Poetik" eingetrichtert wird (was viele zwar lernen, nicht aber verstehen können), so ist, was er als künstlerische Konsequenz zog, doch gesellschaftlich wahr, solange wir uns im Rahmen des Bürgerlichen (das ist "das Romantische") bewegen: "Wir sind nur noch Kindeskinder. Das ist unser Pech, nicht unsere Schuld: Schuld gibt es nur noch als persönliche Leistung, als religiöse Tat. Uns kommt nur noch die Komödie bei." (S.98) - Nur wer das Leben kennt, kann es als Gesetz in der Kunst formulieren; nur wer das Kunstgesetz am Leben bewähren kann, ist Künstler. Dürrenmatt war und bleibt einer. Wenn er uns gleichgültig wird, haben wir das Schlimmste überstanden...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews