The Art of Resistance - (Austrian and Habsburg Studies) by Allyson Fiddler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Well before the far-right resurgence that has most recently transformed European politics, Austria's 1999 parliamentary elections surprised the world with the unexpected success of the Freedom Party of Austria and its charismatic leader, Jörg Haider. The party's perceived xenophobia, isolationism, and unabashed nationalism in turn inspired a massive protest movement that expressed opposition not only through street protests but also in novels, plays, films, and music. Through careful readings of this varied cultural output, The Art of Resistance traces the aesthetic styles and strategies deployed during this time, providing critical context for understanding modern Austrian history as well as the European protest movements of today.

Review Quotes

"This book is remarkable for closing an important gap in Austrian Studies scholarship on contemporary politics and specifically the cultural responses and resistance to far-right wing governments in Austria... a must-read for all scholars who seek a better understanding of cultural resistance to extreme right-wing movements in early twenty-first-century Austria." - Journal of Austrian Studies

"Fiddler's book stands out for the range of works in different media that she discusses. These include acts of everyday protest (demonstrations, speeches, graffiti, dance, etc.), as well as literary texts, films, and dramas... An excellently researched and well-written study, The Art of Resistance will prove an invaluable resource for scholars interested in cultural protest against the far right not just in Austria but around the world." - Modern Language Review

"It is a fascinating book that demonstrates the extent to which the distinction between culture and politics has become blurred--in Austria as elsewhere... Allyson Fiddler's book helps us to understand the complexity of factors behind the new culture of protest." - Austrian History Yearbook

"...a [groundbreaking], lucidly written, meticulously researched magnum opus surveying Austria's, but above all Vienna's, culture of dissent at the turn of the millennium. The passionate archivist Fiddler expertly disentangles the complexities behind protest art in a country once dubbed Insel der Seligen." - Austrian Studies

"The Art of Resistance is a comprehensive, vigorously written treatment of a topic that transcends Austrian Studies. It is clearly the product of extensive research and an intimate familiarity with the subject matter." - Geoffrey C. Howes, Bowling Green State University

"This study provides a meticulously researched analysis of a wide range of cultural phenomena before, during and after the protests at the turn of the millennium in Austria. An unquestionably valuable exploration of artistic production in Austria's protest movement!" - Veronika Zangl, University of Amsterdam

About the Author

Allyson Fiddler is Professor of German and Austrian Studies at Lancaster University and one of the foremost scholars on the work of Nobel laureate Elfriede Jelinek. Her books include Rewriting Reality: An Introduction to Elfriede Jelinek (1994) and 'Other' Austrians: Post-1945 Austrian Women's Writing (1998).