Guest lecture, March 14: Veronica Curran: “Moral Authority in Lenz’s Theory of Theatre”

14 March 2019, 4 pm, Odette Hall 323

What role does theatre play in interacting with and shaping public discourse? How can modern theatre be considered moral? What place do old ideas such as mimesis and catharsis have in modernity? During the rapid secularization of the late-18th century, all of these questions were asked publicly and often. The presumption of a universal moral authority was no longer and the idea of a moral message in art was being thrown into question. J.M.R. Lenz’s Anmerkungen übers Theater (1774) is a reaction to these problems in the world of theatre. His decidedly anti-Aristotelian approach challenges the fields most basic definitions. His innovative views in this and other writings led to a new manner of viewing theatre, its role in society, and its moral responsibilities. This talk will look at the unique manner in which Lenz presents a new theory of theatre that does not depend on, but continues to keep an eye on, morality. It will explore the ways in which this unique viewpoint was continually renewed through a niche group of writers, with far-reaching resonances in Büchner and Brecht.

Veronica Curran holds a B.A. Honours (2012) in German and Early Modern Studies from the University of King’s College, Halifax and a M.A. (2015) in German from Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS.

If you have any accommodation needs, please e-mail german@chass.utoronto.ca five business days prior to the event, and we will do our best to assist you.