Verdichtung, Fragmentierung und Verdrängung

Die Theatrum-Metapher in der Wissenstradition des Pietismus

Abstract

Speaking about theatre today conjures up images of stage, drama and audience. In the earlymodern period ‘theatre’ or ‘theatrum’ meant much more, for it was an architecturally connoted pattern of thinking. This pattern referred to the public presentation of knowledge in visual or quasi-visual ways, as can be seen in the large number of books carrying the metaphor of theatrum in the title. The central issue addressed in my paper is the question of how thinkers like Khunrath, Andreae, Comenius and Francke, all influenced by central- European pietism, dealt with the multi-dimensional phenomenon of theatre. Generally speaking, pietism was not welcoming to real stages, actors, and theatrical presentations; accordingly, the intellectual leaders of pietism also had problems with theatre as a metaphor. Yet, this attitude did not lead to a general rejection of visual media. On the contrary, visualization and the use of objects were important features of their educational projects and philosophy. Even those who rejected the theatre actually accepted its core ideal, visuality.