Die Rolle der Literatur in der German Studies Association

Abstract

This article discusses the development of transatlantic German studies and the waning presence of literary studies within the field. In the 1960s, Pierre Bertaux suggested a rad ical reformation of German studies by shifting the focus from literature to contemporary politics and history. Bertaux had a significant influence on the development of German Studies in the following decades, as the German Studies Association, founded in the United States, stressed the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and further supported the shift from literary to social, cultural, political studies and related fields. This has led to an overall decline of contributions concerned with literature in conferences and in anthologies. Moreover, the lingua franca tends to be English instead of German in conferences held by the GSA, which causes a disadvantage for German scholars and other non-native speakers of English. In conclusion, a heightened awareness of the importance of literature for German studies in and especially outside Germany is desirable.