Home Metamorphose und Metempsychose. Zwei konkurrierende Modelle von Verwandlung im Spiegel der Gegenwartsliteratur
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Metamorphose und Metempsychose. Zwei konkurrierende Modelle von Verwandlung im Spiegel der Gegenwartsliteratur

  • Monika Schmitz-Emans
Published/Copyright: January 4, 2006
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
arcadia
From the journal Volume 40 Issue 2

Abstract

Metamorphosis and metempsychosis, as taught by the philosopher from Samos (Met. XV 16–478), present themselves in Ovid already as two at least virtually conflicting concepts of transformation. They correspond to two contradictory ideas about mediality. According to the first concept, the medium in communication processes is different from the message, and the embodiment of a message is therefore contingent. According to the second one, the medium as such is the message, and “meaning” cannot be established independent of its medial form. Works of Italo Calvino, Christoph Ransmayr, Cees Nooteboom, and Yoko Tawada illustrate different intertextual relations to Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The contemporary works share an intense interest in change; they also reflect upon the different concepts of mediality mentioned without choosing between them.

:
Online erschienen: 2006-01-04
Erschienen im Druck: 2006-01-24

Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG

Downloaded on 17.10.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/arca.2006.40.2.390/html
Scroll to top button