Theatrical Representations of Sainthood in the Context of Interconfessional Conflicts. Swiss Saints' and Martyrs' Plays of the 16th and Early 17th Century

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Cora Dietl
• Subject Area: German Medieval Studies (Medieval German Literature) ; Theatre and Media Studies
• Term: from 2014 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 241971380

At first sight, Swiss saints' plays of the era of Reformation seem to be something non-existent and impossible. Due to Zwingli's and Oekolampad's ardent critique of the cult of saints, it was unthinkable to stage saints' plays in the reformed regions of Switzerland in 16th/17th century. In the catholic parts of Switzerland, however, at that time the staging of saints' plays gained importance as a means to preserve the respective community's identity. This project extends the project "Theatrical Representations of Sainthood in the Context of Inter-Confessional Conflicts. 16th and 17th Century Protestant and Roman Catholic Martyrs' Plays". It contrasts the German plays treated in that project with Swiss drama of the same time (c. 1520-1620), which represents a far more polarizing form of provocative inter-confessional dialogue. In the Holy Roman Empire, martyrs' plays were a rather common genre of Lutheran school drama. They communicated a specific Protestant understanding of 'sainthood' and 'martyrdom', using the persuasive power of theatre. In contrast, Swiss (Catholic) saints' and martyrs' plays of the 16th century are said to be extremely conservative. This is one of the reasons why theatre history tends to ignore them, even though some of them are available in modern editions.We will enquire whether the Swiss plays really are (demonstratively) conservative and exaggerate their medieval elements, and how far they thereby powerfully contribute to the inter-confessional debate. A comparison between German and Swiss drama will help to give a clearer insight into the possibilities to functionalize and exploit the theatrical medium for religious and political purpose. Analyzing the texts, the project will use categories from literary and cultural studies, like form, rhetoric, performance, space, acoustics, and esthetics, but it will also respect the historical, socio-cultural and theological contexts of the plays. A central role will be attributed to the notions of 'sainthood' and 'holiness', since across the centuries, they are both matter and weapon of inter-confessional and in inter-religious debate, and since literature and art have developed various means to construct them.The material aim of the project is three editions of martyrs' plays that have come down to us in manuscripts that are difficult to access (i.e. the project will finally make the texts accessible for research), and a monography which comprehensively describes the Swiss saints' and martyrs' plays, as compared to the German Roman Catholic and Lutheran drama.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Cooperation Partner: Privatdozentin Dr. Heidy Greco-Kaufmann