| Kommentar |
Some scholars claim that ‘celebrities’ first made their appearance during the early modern period (c. 1500-1800). This class will investigate their hypothesis by studying a range of themes relevant to the history of ‛celebrity’ and ‛fame’: culture consumption, sociability, urban entertainment, and the public and private spheres. We will also discuss a series of case studies; these may include such famous individuals as the religious reformer Martin Luther, monarchs like Queen Elizabeth I of England or Marie Antoinette of France, scholars and intellectuals such as Voltaire or Rousseau, bandits like the pirate Captain Kidd or the highwayman Dick Turpin, artists like Sarah Siddons or Farinelli, war heroes from Wallenstein to Nelson... or even an animal ‛star’ like Clara the rhinoceros, who toured Europe and had her portrait painted in Paris. Class discussions and set texts will be in English. Active attendance will include the preparation and presentation of an ‘expert’ and a ‘moderator’ topic. |
| Literatur |
David P. Marshall (ed.), The Celebrity Culture Reader, New York 2010; Antoine Lilti, The Invention of Celebrity: 1750-1850, Cambridge 2017. |
