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Max Frisch and Friedrich Duerrenmatt II: End-time scenarios and visions of destruction
Max Frisch und Friedrich Dürrenmatt II: Endzeit-Szenarien und Untergangsvisionen
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:02:05
Abstract
Duerrenmatt is known as a “painter of disaster,” not only as an artist, but equally as an author and playwright. Max Frisch still uses exploding water heaters, howling sirens, and a fire-reddened sky to show yet another spectacular downfall.
Content
Duerrenmatt is known as a “painter of disaster,” not only as an artist, but equally as an author and playwright. If in his early works the disaster was experienced and depicted primarily externally – terrestrial and cosmic catastrophes – Duerrenmatt’s visions of destruction focused increasingly on individual humans. Instead of an exploding world (“Comedy,” 1944), the individual implodes (“Mitmacher,” 1955) or is condemned to constant repetition of his life (“The Meteor,” 1968). In “Biedermann and the Firebugs,” Max Frisch still uses exploding water heaters, howling sirens, and a fire-reddened sky to show yet another spectacular downfall; in his later works, the catastrophes become increasingly soundless. Frisch’s end-time scenarios move from the silent senility of Mr. Geiser, through scenery in “Triptychon” that becomes more and more rigid and repetitive, to the uncannily imperceptible and yet inescapable direction towards death in the title role of “Blaubart.”
General Information
- Language
- German
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
Max Frisch und Friedrich Dürrenmatt II: Endzeit-Szenarien und Untergangsvisionen
mit Lesungen, s. separater Anschlag
|
|
1 h weekly |
| colloquium | Max Frisch und Friedrich Dürrenmatt II: Endzeit-Szenarien und Untergangsvisionen |
|
1 h weekly |
Offered In
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Geistes-, Sozial- und Staatswissenschaften (Die Sprachkurse sind nicht mehr im Angebot des D-GESS, sondern im Angebot des Sprachenzentrums der Universität und der ETH Zürich enthalten. Adresse: Predigergasse 9, 8001 Zürich, Tel. 01 632 2958, Fax 01 632 1221 Mail: )
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