Reading Holocaust Literature: An Interview Study

Abstract

An exploratory interview study was conducted on the reception of experimental Holocaust literature by German students of Literature and of Psychology up to age 35. The study focused on which variables hinder and support the acceptance of such literature, our hypothesis being that a high degree of literary socialization is especially important for facilitating acceptance of experimental Holocaust literature. Two semi-structured interviews were carried out: the first concentrating on students' knowledge and attitudes toward the Holocaust and its literary representation, and the second focusing on the students' experience in reading and evaluating three texts. Data analysis involved the following steps: content analysis for both interviews, frequency analyses, multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), and MANOVA with gender and subject of study as independent variables and individual scores on the MCA dimensions as dependent variables. Results for the most experimental of the three texts, Hilsenrath's The Nazi and the Barber, show that a high degree of literary socialization did not foster acceptance of experimental Holocaust literature. Instead, it led to an increased perception of taboo violations and to a rejection of Hilsenrath's novel.