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Rails and Liminal Experiences: A Literary History of the Railway
Gleise und Grenzerfahrungen: Eine Literaturgeschichte der Eisenbahn
Last Updated: 2026-06-03 00:07:47
Abstract
The railway is more than just a means of transport; it is a key symbol of modernity that has transformed the way we perceive space and time. This seminar examines the history of rail transport between technological progress and literary interpretation. The railway has influenced aesthetic approaches and serves as a place for social rituals, psychological thresholds and political discourse.
Objective
Students learn to perceive technological developments not only as engineering achievements, but also as cultural phenomena. They develop the ability to analyse literary texts as such, as well as historical resources for human perception of technology, and to critically examine how narratives shape our view of mobility and infrastructure.
Content
The railway is much more than just a means of transport; it is a key symbol of modernity that has transformed the way we perceive space and time. Although literary scholars previously assumed that the significance of the railway as a literary motif had declined after the early 20th century due to the dominance of the automobile, we are now witnessing a renaissance of rail transport in literature in light of the climate crisis, new mobility concepts, and a desire to slow down. This seminar will examine the turbulent history of rail transport, exploring the interplay between technological progress and literary interpretation. We analyse how the 'destruction of space and time' (Wolfgang Schivelbusch) has found its way into aesthetic approaches, and consider how the railway serves as a setting for social rituals, psychological threshold, and political discourse. Since its first journey as a form of public transport (1825), the railway has brought people closer together, but it has also been used in times of war. During the Second World War, for example, it was indispensable for the logistics of death. Works by authors such as Joseph von Eichendorff, Heinrich Heine, Gerhart Hauptmann, Thomas Mann, Theodor Fontane, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, Mascha Kaléko, Patricia Highsmith, Bertolt Brecht, Peter Weiss, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Max Frisch, W.G. Sebald, Peter Weber and Jaroslav Rudiš will be read.
Resources
Literature
Wolfgang Schivelbusch, The Railway Journey. The Industrialization of Time and Space in the 19th Century, 1979.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- DS , MSC
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Max Places
- 30
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar | Gleise und Grenzerfahrungen: Eine Literaturgeschichte der Eisenbahn | No time listed | 2 h weekly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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