Uncontainable Legacies: Theses on Intellectual, Cultural, and Political Inheritance

Gerhard Richter explores the human dilemma of receiving an intellectual, cultural, or political inheritance in his theses, such as Wrinkles, Inheriting a Feeling, Weight of the World, and Making Treasures Speak. He dialogues with philosophers, writers, artists, filmmakers, scholars, and pop-cultural phenomena to consider the problem of interpreting an inheritance that resists full transparency. Richter argues that inheriting is not the same as yearning for a former presence or nostalgically striving to preserve an identity, and his aphoristic theses illuminate how the constantly shifting nature of our relationship to what we inherit from others makes us who we are.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 22 September 2021
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

In a series of thought-provoking theses titled "Wrinkles," "Inheriting a Feeling," "Weight of the World," and "Making Treasures Speak," Gerhard Richter delves into the profound human dilemma of receiving an intellectual, cultural, or political inheritance. Through engaging dialogues with philosophers such as Heraclitus, Arendt, and Derrida, writers like Montaigne, Holderlin, Kafka, and Knausgaard, artists like Michelangelo, Picasso, Anselm Kiefer, and Art Spiegelman, filmmakers like Jean-Marie Straub, scholars and scientists Freud and Einstein, and pop-cultural phenomena like the rock band The Who and the Broadway play "The Inheritance," Richter explores the complexities of interpreting an inheritance that resists full transparency. He argues that inheriting is not merely a longing for a former presence or a nostalgic attempt to preserve an identity. Rather, it is a dynamic and ever-evolving process that shapes our very essence. Richter's aphoristic theses, which blend philosophy and poetry, shed light on how the constantly shifting nature of our relationship to what we inherit from others contributes to our identity formation. By examining the nuances of inheritance, Richter offers a profound exploration of the human condition, challenging us to embrace the complexities and contradictions of our past while forging a path toward a precarious future.

Weight: 350g
Dimension: 142 x 201 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474487801