Unterwegs. Zur Roadstory in der deutschsprachigen Popliteratur

Abstrakt

Underway. The Characteristics of a Raod-Story in German Entertaing Literature

This article is devoted to analysing and interpreting of two literary works: Oben leuchten die Sterne 2006 by André Kubiczek and Faserland 1995 by Christian Kracht. Special attention is paid to the patterns of the road-story, which is very popular among young writers of entertaining literature. Travelling and journeys have a special impact on the perception and vastly influence our identities. By contrasting these two novels the author of this paper indicates two different meanings and developing vs. destructing force, which can either educate a protagonist or lead to his failure and contempt. In the novel Faserland readers encounter a dandy who leads a life of luxury and who enjoys spending his days on parties and other strong stimulants. The writer criticizes the modern way of life, young party-goers, whose joy not only good music on the radio is. The main character, Bender, in the novel Oben leuchten die Sterne gives up his style of life after receiving his grandfather’s last will. Bender assumes the new task and sets off, to get to the new people, who are obliged to help him, in order to fulfill the last will of his grandfather. Both works illustrate the roads and highways and present by contrast different perspectives of these protagonists.