Issues 19th c. Liberalism | Theatrical
Symbolism | Renewal | Wholeness Nationalism and Racism The earliest activities of the Circle reflected an interest in an ideal society founded in reviving the essence of the Germanic folk. The Circle extolled the German folk and the superiority of the cultural inheritance of Germany. This belief extended into a vision for a unified Germany. Friedjung and Kralik looked to the folk as a source of simplicity, clarity, and renewal. Pernerstorfer was one of the founders of the pan-German (deutschnational) movement. The Linz Program, which numerous Circle members participated in and evolved into a foundation for later socialist activity, focused on the complaints of the lower classes -- the workers and peasants. Kralik recalled in his memoirs a meeting in which the members of theCircle all sang Deutschland, Deutschland über Alles!, with Gustav Mahler as piano accompanist. The deutschnational movement saw Richard Wagner's work as an epitome of the potential for German folk to be the basis for transformative art. This concept, united with socialism, was expressed by Pernerstorfer thus in 1911: "Socialism will be the first to create a condition consciously, in which no one will be prevented by restrictive social forms from becoming a whole man... only then will Richard Wagner's dream and the majesty of the work of art become true." Pernerstorfer explains that nationalists such as himself always perceived the pursuit of a unified Germany to be an essentially democratic and inclusive pursuit. But the tragic irony is that the völkish nationalism espoused by the Circle was thoroughly intertwined with the resurgence of anti-Semitism at the turn of the century. Most of the Circle's members were, in fact, Jewish (including Adler, Serafin Bondi, Freidjung, Lipiner, and Mahler). But the völkish movement attracted many Jews who were willing to accept the negative stereotypes of Jewish cultural traditions. These Jewish members of the Circle saw themselves as members of the German folk; they rejected what they perceived to be Jewish cultural traits of devotion to urbanity, capitalism, and disconnected intellectualism. The Wagnerism that united the members of the Circle was itself burdened with an undercurrent of anti-Semitic ideology. Socialist circles were also increasingly characterized by anti-Semitism, particularly among the lower-middle class participants. Georg von Schönerer -- who also participated in drafting the Linz Program with Circle members -- evolved into a virulently anti-Semitic politician and activist (and was acknowledged by Hitler as one of his primary inspirations during his time in Vienna). 19th c. Liberalism | Theatrical
Symbolism | Renewal | Wholeness
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