Primitive Thinking: Figuring Alterity in German Modernity

This book examines the discourse on ’primitive thinking’ in early twentieth century Germany. It explores texts from the social sciences, writings on art and language and - most centrally - literary works by Robert Musil, Walter Benjamin, Gottfried Benn and Robert Müller, focusing on three figurations of alterity prominent in European primitivism: indigenous cultures, children, and the mentally ill.

Nicola Gess, Universität Basel, Switzerland.