Muller-Sievers, Helmut

Research

research overview

My work is concerned with the intersections of literature, science, and philosophy in the 18th and 19th century. I investigate the manifest relations between these discourses -- for example in the work of Goethe, Kleist, Büchner, or Hölderlin -- as well as the structural and cultural impact these discourses have on one another. I am particularly interested in the relation between the approaches taken by early 19th century engineers and the formal innovations of what became realist narrative. My most recent publications concern the relationship of literary studies and experience as conceived in Mahayana Buddhism and in Western Metaphyics.

keywords

Literary History, Cultural History, Science and Literature in the 18th and 19th centuries, Literature and Engineering, Literature and Philosophy, Philology

Publications

selected publications

book
chapter
- Kurbeln und Anlassen. 31-35. 2022
- "Anglo-Amerikanische Literatur.“. 75-76. 2020
- “Goethe’s Schlüsselpoetik. World and Technics in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre.“. 203-226. 2020
- “Going On: Philosophy of Continuity and the Writing of Coherence in Goethe’s Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship.”. 237-268. 2020
- Des Sirius goldne Küsten – Astronomie und Weltraumfiktion 2019
journal article
- Formless Form. Epistemology and Poetics of the Aggregate in late Goethe. The Germanic Review. 292-293. 2022
- Goethe as Chorographer: Time and World in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre (Goethe als Chorograph: Zeit und Welt in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre). Deutsche Vierteljahrsschrift fuer Literaturwissenschaft und Geistesgeschichte. 145-160. 2020
- Goethe as chorographer Time and world in Wilhelm Meisters Wanderjahre. Deutsche Vierteljahrsschrift fuer Literaturwissenschaft und Geistesgeschichte. 145-160. 2020
- The Curse of Technics: A Gloss on the World-Curse in Goethe's Faust. MLN. 656-661. 2016
- Buddhistischer Minimalismus. Merkur. 2016

Teaching

courses taught

GRMN 1701 - Nature and Environment in German Literature and Thought
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
Critically examines titles in German literature and thought. Nature and environment are used to explore alienation, artistic inspiration, nihilism, exploitation, sexuality, rural versus urban, meaning of the earth, cultural renewal, identity and gender. This "Green" survey of German classics spans Romanticism's conception of nature as unconscious spirit to the politics and values of contemporary Germany's Green Party. Taught in English. Same as HUMN 1701.
GRMN 2402 - Sports and Athleticism in German and Global Culture
Primary Instructor - Spring 2024
Examines development of sports and athleticism from ancient Greek and Roman games and spectacles to the present day. Particular emphasis is given to the role of sports in courtly societies, to the emergence of popular sports in 19th century Germany and Europe, and to the globalization of sports in the 20th century. Topics include the history of Olympic Games, cultural differences as differences in sports (Football vs. soccer, baseball vs. cricket), as well as alternative and niche sports. Taught in English. Formerly offered as a special topics course.
GRMN 3120 - German Literature from the Enlightenment to Expressionism
Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2024
Examines selected literary texts of various periods. Emphasizes longer texts and critical skills. Department enforced prereq., GRMN 2020 (minimum grade C-). Taught in German.
GRMN 3141 - Topics in Modern German Culture and Society
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Examines topics in modern German culture, including German literature, film, art, and politics. Topics vary each semester. Taught in English.
GRMN 3150 - Issues in German Politics, Literature and Media
Primary Instructor - Spring 2023
Examines literary, film, and theoretical texts in German about the relationship between media, film, literature and politics. Topics may include migration, right-populism, revolution, student movements, protest art. Topics vary by semester. Taught in German. Department enforced prereq., GRMN 2020, GRMN 2030, or comparable fluency. Taught in German.

GRMN 3502 - Literature in the Age of Goethe
Primary Instructor - Spring 2019
Features the writings of Germany's major literary figures from 1749 to 1832. Special attention is paid to the formation of literary periods, genres, aesthetic, and socio-historical developments contributing to the birth of modernism in German intellectual history and literature. Taught in English.

GRMN 3505 - The Enlightenment: Tolerance and Emancipation
Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023
Examines Enlightenment notions of reason, humanity and social progress. Topics include 18th century views on government, science, education, religion, slavery and gender roles. Taught in English. Same as HUMN 3505.

GRMN 4502 - Nietzsche: Literature and Values
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
Emphasis is placed on Nietzsche's major writings spanning the years 1872-1888, with particular attention to the critique of Western values. A systematic exploration of doctrines, concepts and ideas leading to the values of creativity. Taught in English. Same as HUMN 4502.

GRMN 4504 - Goethe's Faust
Primary Instructor - Spring 2020
Systematic study of the Faust motif in Western literature, with major emphasis on Faust I and II by Goethe and Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus. Taught in English. Same as GRMN 5504 and HUMN 4504.

GRMN 4550 - Senior Seminar in German Studies
Primary Instructor - Fall 2019
This course provides students with a capstone experience through in-depth study of a topic in German Studies, and deepens students' engagement with theories and methodologies informing contemporary German Studies scholarship. Students work closely with faculty to develop a major final research paper or project. Topic varies by semester.

GRMN 5010 - Theory and Practice of German Studies
Primary Instructor - Spring 2018
Provides a graduate-level introduction to German Studies, with emphasis on theoretical approaches and current trends in German Studies. Special attention will be given to developing the tools necessary for advanced criticism: close-reading skills, mastery of critical terminology, and training in a range of theoretical approaches. The main goals of this course are (1) to introduce students to critical approaches to literature/art/film and recent theoretical trends in German literary and cultural studies, (2) to give students the opportunity to deepen interpretive skills through close reading and discussion of representative texts, and (3) to encourage students to explore theoretical approaches to literary and cultural material.

GRMN 5030 - Foundations of Critical Theory
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
An introductory study of nineteenth-century German philosophy (especially Kant, Hegel, and Marx). Required course for the graduate certificate in Critical Theory.

GRMN 5220 - Seminar: Topics in the Age of Goethe
Primary Instructor - Fall 2019
Examines various aspects of German-speaking society from the 1770s to 1830s. Topics may include Sturm und Drang as social commentary; romantic theory in the wake of the French Revolution; romantic nationalism; the Faust theme; Weimar as a cultural center; and others. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours when topic varies.

GRMN 6900 - Master's Thesis
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours.

HUMN 1701 - Nature and Environment in German Literature and Thought
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
Critically examines titles in German literature and thought. Nature and environment are used to explore alienation, artistic inspiration, nihilism, exploitation, sexuality, rural versus urban, meaning of the earth, cultural renewal, identity and gender. This "Green" survey of German classics spans Romanticism's conception of nature as unconscious spirit to the politics and values of contemporary Germany's Green party. Same as GRMN 1701.

HUMN 3505 - The Enlightenment: Tolerance and Emancipation
Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2023
Examines Enlightenment notions of reason, humanity and social progress. Topics include 18th century views on government, science, education, religion, slavery and gender roles. Same as GRMN 3505.

HUMN 4502 - Nietzsche: Literature and Values
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
Emphasis is placed on Nietzsche's major writings spanning the years 1872-1888, with particular attention to the critique of Western values. A systematic exploration of doctrines, concepts and ideas leading to the values of creativity. Same as GRMN 4502.

HUMN 4504 - Goethe's Faust
Primary Instructor - Spring 2020
Systematic study of the Faust motif in Western literature, with major emphasis on Faust I and II by Goethe and Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus. Same as GRMN 4504 and GRMN 5504.

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Background

education and training

awards and honors

Distinguished Research Lectureship, conferred by Research & Innovation Office, 2019
Getty Scholar, conferred by Getty Foundation, The, 2007
Fellow, conferred by National Humanities Center, 1994

International Activities

geographic focus

Germany Country
Switzerland Country
United Kingdom Country
northern Europe Transnational Region

VIVO

Positions

Research Areas