Wednesday, September 24, 2014

The Writing Of Franz Kafka And Kafkaesque Art

By Karina Frost


While Franz Kafka is known for his writings, a number of artists have incorporated different images into various pieces over time. This art, now often known as kafkaesque art, is popular all over the world. Whether for the love of horrific, nightmarish images or the emotions such art has been known to bring to the surface, art enthusiasts and writers alike tend to flock to shows featuring this type art.

Most of his work expresses concerns about current events, one being the rapid growth of capitalism and corporate greed. Franz may very well have been a writer ahead of his time. Or, one which could have provided a great deal of insight as to how the world would be in the future. Whatever the case, kafkaesque is a label that has now been given to artwork by a number of artists who paint or create photographic images based on his writings.

The majority of Kafka's work draws a comparison between concerns and current events at the time. He seem to portray a belief in most of his work that the world was not only void of meaning but also malevolent toward the individual. His overall belief about society being that most people were mean and menacing due to this new era of greed and capitalism.

Current events and concerns about the future figured prominently in the writings of Kafka. He believed, or at least portrayed a belief that the world was void of meaning and purpose. As a result of this belief, the writer provided an ideology that most societies are less than hospitable in most situations.

Born to a middle class German Jewish family in Prague, at that time the capital of Bohemia, he was both Austrian and Hungarian. While his first language was German, he was also fluent in Czech. Still, his dialect and vocabulary was primarily German which came across both in oral and written interactions.

Kafka became quite ill in 1917, he later received a diagnosis of tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is an illness that requires a great deal of ongoing convalescent care whether in a home or rehabilitation center. After years of treatment, he later moved to Berlin. It was in Berlin where the writer fell in love with a young Jewish girl. Being he was a Germanic Jew, her mother had reservations but liked Kafka so with the blessing of the young girl's mother, the two were married.

At that time, writers were known more as hobbyists than having a career in the field. While this is still the case for some, most published writers are considered to have a career in the area. Sadly, for Franz Kafka, while known as one of the most prolific writers of his time, it appears he did not see English, or writing as a solid career choice which could stand on its own.

Franz, like many artists, suffered a serious mental illness. Whether this illness only included those diagnosed as anxiety and depression, or something more severe is unknown. Though, it certainly seems to some in the mental health profession that the ongoing darkness and images he painted with words may also have indicated the presence of schizophrenia.




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