Language:
German
Year of publication:
1998
Titel der Quelle:
History and Memory; Studies in Representation of the Past
Angaben zur Quelle:
10,2 (1998) 43-67
Keywords:
Weiss, Peter,
;
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945), in literature
Abstract:
Many critics (Lawrence L. Langer, Alvin H. Rosenfeld, Sidra D. Ezrahi, James E. Young) disparaged Weiss's play claiming that it is artless and emotionless, distorts and exploits the Holocaust for ideological reasons, and does not mention Jews. Notes that critics dealing with Holocaust literature largely neglect German literature on the subject. Defends "The Investigation" against its critics, contending that far from being a condensed version of the Auschwitz trial transcripts, the play is a surrealist text. It is a play written in the tradition of the German Documentary Theater and follows all of its canons. Indeed, Weiss does not mention Jews (or even Germans) in his play. Contends that this usage can be justified; what cannot is the full neglect of the non-Jewish victims of Nazism by some authors. Weiss exploited the Holocaust for his quasi-communist ideological ends like almost every other author (e.g. Zionist, leftist, religious).
Note:
An abridged German version appeared in "Niemand zeugt für den Zeugen" (2000).
URL:
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