Deaths in Venice The Cases of Gustav Von Aschenbach

In Mann¿s story (Deaths in Venice), the author Gustav von Aschenbach becomes captivated by an adolescent boy, first seen on the lido in Venice, the eventual site of Aschenbach¿s own death. Mann works through central concerns about how to live, explored with equal intensity by his German predecessors, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche. Kitcher considers how Mann¿s, Britten¿s, and Visconti¿s treatments illuminate the tension between social and ethical values and an artist¿s sensitivity to beauty. Each work asks whether a life devoted to self-sacrifice in the pursuit of lasting achievements can be sustained, and whether the breakdown of discipline undercuts its worth. Haunted by the prospect of his death, Aschenbach also helps reflect on whether it is possible to achieve anything in full awareness of our finitude and in knowing our successes are always incomplete.

About the author

Philip Kitcher is the John Dewey Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University and the author of numerous books and articles, including Science in a Democratic Society, The Ethical Project, and Preludes to Pragmatism: Toward a Reconstruction of Philosophy.

Summary

Diving into the philosophical depths of Thomas Mann's beloved novella, as imagined in words, music, and film.

Product details

• Authors: Philip Kitcher, Kitcher
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Content: Book
• Product form: Hardback
• Publication date: 31.12.2013
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Miscellaneous
• EAN: 9780231162647
• ISBN: 978-0-231-16264-7
• Pages: 280
• Series: Leonard Hastings Schoff Lectures; Leonard Hastings Schoff Lectures
• Subjects: Aesthetics, Philosophy, LITERARY CRITICISM / European / General, PHILOSOPHY / Aesthetics, MUSIC / Genres & Styles / Opera, german, Opera, 20th century, c 1900 to c 1999, PERFORMING ARTS / Film / History & Criticism, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Literary studies: c 1900 to c 2000, Music of film and stage, Film history, theory or criticism, music; aesthetics