Storytelling Is the Representation of Differences

Abstract

This chapter examines the dialogue between Jochen Rack and Alexander Kluge wherein they talk about Kluge's book Chronik der Gefühle (Chronicle of Feelings, 2000). The book tells the story of a century, featuring all the moments that changed the contours of the world, which happened within Kluge's lifetime. Kluge understands these historical events as expressions of emotional states. He argues that feelings do not play a significant enough role in the way history is currently told. Rack and Kluge then discusses the concept of basic trust, which Kluge claims exists in both human beings and animals. They also consider Homer's Odyssey and the thesis that Odysseus has to kill his feelings in order to emancipate himself from the forces of myth. Ultimately, the examples of stories that Rack and Kluge discussed show that there are different, conflicting layers of emotions. Indeed, according to Kluge, storytelling is the representation of differences.