The colonialism of the 19th century has not only been the consequence and reason for the rapid industrialization, urbanization, socio-political and cultural changes, but also invoked a change in a way people would perceive the world around them. In other words, it is important to discuss how reception history entered people’s lives: its notion is important in itself not only as a concept, but “as a method to investigate the dynamics of what is being ‘read’ in selected products from another culture.” The paper will investigate the history of the swastika since its European discovery in the 19th century, how it was perceived then and now and what impact it had on the European society.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction to Reception History
2. The Swastika: Origins and Cultural Context
3. Colonialism and the 19th Century Zeitgeist
4. The Construction and Appropriation of the Swastika
5. The Third Reich and the Negative Connotation
6. Memory and Legislation in Contemporary Russia
7. Conclusion: The Swastika as a Universal Symbol
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper aims to investigate the 19th-century European perception of the swastika through the lens of reception history, analyzing how an ancient Asian symbol was processed, appropriated, and eventually redefined through the socio-cultural and political context of Western history, specifically leading to its association with Nazism and its contemporary legacy.
- Theoretical foundations of reception history and the "horizon of expectations."
- The role of 19th-century colonialism and orientalism in the selective appropriation of cultural symbols.
- The transition of the swastika from a symbol of well-being to an emblem of Aryan racial superiority.
- The impact of WWII and the Holocaust on the collective memory and legal status of the swastika.
- Case study of contemporary memory politics and censorship regarding the symbol in Russia.
Excerpt from the Book
The construction and appropriation of the swastika
The growing colonization of the 19th century brought about the developing interest for everything Oriental and introduced many things before unknown to the Westerners. The 19th century subsequently became the Age of Asian discoveries in the fields of anthropology, history, culture studies, archeology and etcetera. For example, the discovery and birth of the Indo-European language group theory has a strong relevance with the growing popularity of the swastika in the West. Heinrich Schliemann, a German archeologist, concluded that the swastika was a specifically Aryan symbol after consulting two Sanskrit specialists following his discovery of objects in the ruins of Troy with the symbol of swastika on them. How did this idea spread out throughout whole Europe?
The daily routine of the 19th century with its fragmented and well-ordered way of life, understanding and interpretation bothered the European society enormously. The processes taking place in the light of the century gave birth to counter voices and diverse reactions. Anti-slavery, call for humanity and rise of right activists in many fields (labor, gender etcetera) were the vast responses to the harsh and inevitable fragmentation and Social Darwinism which gave floor later to such movements as Social Evolutionism and Nationalism. Human activities were not enough to differentiate from the ordered mass, thus brand new cultural waves from the East (Asia) became an escape from the pressing reality of the 19th century into the new world of exotic and unknown things.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction to Reception History: Discusses the theoretical framework of reception history as a method to analyze how historical events and symbols are interpreted and transformed by different cultures over time.
2. The Swastika: Origins and Cultural Context: Explores the ancient etymology and positive original meanings of the swastika in diverse global cultures, including Indian and Mesopotamian traditions.
3. Colonialism and the 19th Century Zeitgeist: Examines how European colonial expansion and the rise of Orientalism created a climate for the exoticization and selective appropriation of Eastern symbols.
4. The Construction and Appropriation of the Swastika: Details how the symbol was reinterpreted as an "Aryan" emblem, fueled by pseudoscientific theories and archeological findings like those of Heinrich Schliemann.
5. The Third Reich and the Negative Connotation: Analyzes the political instrumentalization of the swastika by the Nazi party and how this association permanently altered the symbol's perception in the West.
6. Memory and Legislation in Contemporary Russia: Investigates modern attempts to censor the swastika and the complex relationship between national memory, trauma, and the legal banning of symbols.
7. Conclusion: The Swastika as a Universal Symbol: Reflects on the future of the symbol and whether it can shed its "Nazified" meaning to regain a more neutral or original status in a globalized world.
Keywords
Reception History, Swastika, Orientalism, Colonialism, Aryan Theories, Nazi Germany, Cultural Appropriation, Collective Memory, WWII, Symbolism, Hakenkreuz, Identity, Socio-Cultural Atmosphere, Interpretation, Symbola non grata.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines the reception history of the swastika, exploring how an ancient positive symbol from Asian cultures was re-evaluated and distorted within the 19th-century European context.
Which theoretical framework is applied?
The research utilizes the methodology of reception history, specifically drawing on Hans Robert Jauss’s "horizon of expectations" to explain how interpreters project their own values onto symbols.
How did the swastika become associated with the Aryan race?
The association was largely constructed during the 19th century through the intersection of Orientalism, colonial exploration, and the emergence of pseudoscientific racial theories, famously supported by figures like Heinrich Schliemann.
What is the role of memory in the study?
The paper discusses how the "inscription" of the swastika into collective memory—as a result of the traumas of WWII—makes it difficult for Western societies to perceive the symbol outside of its Nazi association.
What contemporary issue is used as a case study?
The author analyzes the recent legislative actions in Russia regarding the banning of Nazi paraphernalia, which sometimes leads to the suppression of legitimate religious usage of the swastika.
How does the author define the term "universal symbol"?
It is defined in the context of the swastika as being "useful for many purposes," showing a high degree of adaptability and multiplicity of meaning across different historical periods and cultural settings.
What is the connection between the 19th-century "Orientalist gaze" and the swastika?
The "Orientalist gaze" refers to the selective and often inaccurate way 19th-century Europe processed Eastern heritage; the swastika was extracted from its original context and "pumped" into the European consciousness to serve local nationalistic needs.
Is the swastika still viewed negatively everywhere?
No, the author highlights that while the symbol is largely taboo in the West, it remains a common and positive sign of well-being and good fortune in many Asian countries, particularly in Buddhist cultures.
- Citation du texte
- Master of Arts Vera Ande (Auteur), 2015, A Reception History and Impact History of the Swastika Since the 19th Century, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/345661
