The influence of Franz Kafka's literature on aspects of critical cultural theory

Abstract

V članku je pregledno obravnavana kritična interpretacija književnosti Franza Kafke. Intelektualci, ki pripadajo širokemu polju kulturnih študij, ustvarjajo kulturne, politično-filozofske in jezikovne teorije pod (ne)posrednim vplivom Kafkove književnosti, s tem pa utrjujejo ugled njegove književnosti. V preseku modernistične književnosti in postmoderne kulturne teorije so analizirane podobnosti in skupni problemi, ki se nanašajo na kritičen odnos do modernosti in idej napredka, na vprašanja kulturnih manjšin in identitet ter na vprašanja jezika. Članek poskuša izpostaviti recipročno vez med modernistično književnostjo in postmoderno kulturno teorijo.

In this article, we provide an overview of critical interpretations of Franz Kafka’s literature by authors from the field of critical cultural studies. We show that many intellectuals in this field have created theories under the (in)direct influence of Kafka’s literature and thus have consolidated Kafka as a canonical writer. We outline similarities and common problems in the field of cultural studies and Kafka studies including the relationship toward modernity, a critique of the idea of progress, the question of cultural minorities and identities, and the problem of signification. In this discussion, we attempt to show the reciprocal link between modernist literature and postmodernist cultural theory.