ML 2500 Project by Wittland, Michael J

Franz Kafka

mwittland3 — 2024-09-08 16:10:43 UTC

Arguably the most influential author of the 20th century, Franz Kafka is well known for his writing, which explored the themes of alienation, guilt, and modern life.

The Metamorphosis

mwittland3 — 2024-09-08 16:47:57 UTC

Although it was published in 1915, Kafka began working on The Metamorphosis in 1912. The Metamorphosis tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes up and finds himself in the form of a giant insect. Samsa's transformation reflects his alienation from society and his family. The themes Kafka presents in The Metamorphosis represent broader feelings of the time, as Germany was in a period of rapid industrialization. Many German citizens experienced the same feelings of helplessness that Samsa endures in the story.

The Judgment

mwittland3 — 2024-09-08 17:05:41 UTC

Published in 1913, The Judgment details the story of Georg Bendemann, a young man struggling with an overcontrolling father. The story ends in a tragic scene, where Georg's father calls him a "devilish human being" and sentences him to "death by drowning." The main theme of the story, paternal authority, reflects Kafka's personal struggles in his relationship with his own father. The themes presented in The Judgment reflect broader concerns of the time, as people began to question traditional hierarchies and authority in the early 20th century.

Kafka's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-09-08 17:05:51 UTC

Kafka's works are essential to German culture, and he has deeply influenced German authors and philosophers. His writings foreshadowed the dehumanization of the Nazi regime. In Kafka's The Trial, the main character is wrongfully persecuted for a crime he is not aware of. This unfair treatment by the government mirrors the Nazi's actions against the Jewish population during the Holocaust. Beyond Germany, Kafka's work continues to inspire writers to this day. The linked paper examines Kafka's influence on Albert Camus' The Outsider.

Relationship Struggles in 1913

mwittland3 — 2024-09-10 21:59:45 UTC

In 1913, Kafka was involved in a long-distance relationship with Felice Bauer. In writing to Bauer, Kafka expressed his feelings of inadequacy and guilt, common themes in his writing. According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, "Once when there hadn't been a word from Felice for a few days, after waking from unsettled dreams, in desperation he [Kafka] desperately started work on Metamorphosis" (Illies, 8). This relationship had a strong influence on Kafka's writing and motivated him to produce some of his most famous stories throughout 1913, including The Judgment. The linked PDF is my first response paper from the beginning of the semester, which compares and contrasts The Judgment and Dearest Father, both written by Kafka.

Arnold Schönberg

mwittland3 — 2024-09-10 22:22:41 UTC

Known for his modern approach to music, Arnold Schönberg was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. His greatest contributions to music include the twelve tone technique and atonality. Schönberg had a strong influence on the composers that followed him, especially Alban Berg and Anton Webern. 1913 was a pivotal year in Schönberg's career, as his work was featured in the infamous Skandalkonzert.

The Skandalkonzert

mwittland3 — 2024-09-10 22:23:10 UTC

On March 31, 1913, the Skandalkonzert took place at the Great Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. The concert featured work by composers from the Second Viennese school, a school led by Schönberg. This concert is notorious for the audience's reaction to the music, as they did not take well to Schönberg's experimental approach. According to The Year Before the Storm, Schönberg stopped the orchestra, warning the audience that "he will have any trouble-makers removed by force." Pandemonium ensued, as one conductor was "challenged to a duel," and the police had to turn the lights off in order to stop the fighting (Illies, 76).

The Second Viennese School

mwittland3 — 2024-09-10 22:24:02 UTC

From 1903 to 1925, Schönberg lived and taught at The Second Viennese School. Here, Schönberg deviated from the original tonal system and music, developing the atonal system. Atonal music has no central key, which gives composers more freedom to express a wide range of emotions. Schönberg's most notable students, Alban Berg and Anton Webern, also made significant contributions to music.

Moses Und Aron

mwittland3 — 2024-09-10 22:24:30 UTC

Composed between the years of 1930 and 1932, Moses Und Aron is widely considered one of Schönberg's greatest works.

Pablo Picasso

mwittland3 — 2024-09-11 17:54:13 UTC

Pablo Picasso was a highly influential Spanish painter throughout the early 20th century. As co founder of the Cubist movement, Picasso constantly evolved his art style, challenging traditional techniques. In February of 1913, Picasso's art was featured in New York's Armory Show, introducing modern art to a large audience.

Cubist Movement

mwittland3 — 2024-09-11 17:59:03 UTC

Co-founded by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, the Cubist movement took place during the early 20th century. Cubism involves depicting objects from multiple perspectives rather than a single viewpoint. The ideas and techniques of Cubism laid the foundation for many other modernist art movements, including: constructivism, futurism, and neo-plasticism.

Armory Show

mwittland3 — 2024-09-11 17:59:16 UTC

On February 17th, 1913, the Armory Show, "one of the most important art exhibitions of the century" opened. According to The Year Before the Storm, it led to the global "supremacy of modern art" (Illies, 39). The Armory Show officially introduced modern art to an American audience, and marked the beginning of the acceptance of modern art in the U.S. Many of Picasso's Cubist works were featured in the show, including Woman With Mustard Pot.

Picasso's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-09-11 17:59:24 UTC

Within Germany and worldwide, Picasso has a profound legacy. Picasso's influence on German artists can be observed in the work of Wassily Kandinsky, a prominent figure in the Bauhaus movement. According to Dr. Samah Nassar, Kandinsky was "inspired by Picasso’s style and the creative treatment of geometrical shapes and forms" (Nassar, 4). Globally, Picasso's impact has extended far beyond his lifetime. His revolutionary ideas have inspired countless contemporary artists, like David Hockney and Andy Warhol.

Bernhard Kellermann

mwittland3 — 2024-09-22 16:31:38 UTC

Berhnard Kellermann was a well known German author during the early 1900s. In April of 1913, he published his most famous novel, Der Tunnel.

Der Tunnel

mwittland3 — 2024-09-24 15:34:32 UTC

Kellermann's Der Tunnel tells the story of Mac Allan, an engineer with the idea of constructing a tunnel from Europe to New York. 1913: The Year Before the Storm describes the story as "science fiction mixed with with realism, social criticism with engineering romanticism, capitalist belief in progress with wearily apocalyptic fantasy" (Illies, 96). In 1915, Der Tunnel, a silent drama film inspired by the book, was released, and it remains one of the best films produced in the early 1900s. According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, 10,000 copies of the book were sold within 4 weeks, and 100,000 after just six months, which is extremely impressive considering the time period. The success of Der Tunnel is a testament to Kellermann's understanding of "the passion for progress that characterizes the era he lives in" (Illies, 96).

Der 9 November

mwittland3 — 2024-09-24 15:49:43 UTC

Published in 1920, Der 9 November was Kellermann's most controversial book. Kellermann's writing was inspired by the events of WWI and the November Revolution of 1918. He was highly critical of the German soldiers and officials behavior against the people, which resulted in the book's public burning and banning by the Nazis.

The Significance of Kellermann

mwittland3 — 2024-09-26 17:18:22 UTC

Kellermann's significance extends beyond his success in science fiction writing. Kellermann's criticism of German officials was very brave, especially considering the time period he lived in. Despite being pressured into serving the Third Reich after Der 9 November was banned, Kellermann would maintain his morals, refusing to write racist brochures. Though there is much existing research on Kellermann, it is safe to say he was one of the most important German authors of the 20th century.

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner

mwittland3 — 2024-10-02 17:47:01 UTC

Founder of the Expressionist Movement and leader of Die Brucke, Ernst Lüdwig Kirchner is one of the most significant artists in German history.

Die Brücke Dissolution

mwittland3 — 2024-10-03 15:30:41 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, Die Brücke dissolved "once and for all" in May, 1913. The formal letter of dissolution received signatures from all four group members except for Kirchner (Illies, 114). Ultimately, the group split up because Kirchner depicted himself as the leader of Die Brücke in one of his works, which the other members felt was egocentric. Despite ending on bad terms, Die Brücke was essential to the success of the Expressionist Movement. The linked website contains some of the most important work produced by the group.

The Expressionist Movement

mwittland3 — 2024-10-03 15:31:05 UTC

In 1905, Kirchner formed a group of four German artists named Die Brücke. The formation of Die Brücke marks the beginning of the Expressionist Movement. Expressionist art intended to convey emotional experiences, rather than physical reality. Although Expressionism died down after 1920, it was officially put to an end in 1933, when the Nazi's deemed the art "degenerate", banning the publication of Expressionist art. The linked article explores pushback against the Expressionist movement in greater detail.

"Sleeping Milly" Controversy

mwittland3 — 2024-10-03 15:31:22 UTC

Painted in 1911, "Sleeping Milly" remains one of Kirchner's most controversial works. Much of Kirchner's work in the early 1900s featured nude women as models. In the case of "Sleeping Milly", Kirchner's portrayal of the model is very objectifying. Art from this time period didn't normally feature Black women, especially not in this way which contains racist stereotypes. Over time, paintings like "Sleeping Milly" have had a major impact on the way we view Kirchner and his work.

Kirchner's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-10-03 15:32:13 UTC

Kirchner will always be remembered as a pioneer of the Expressionist movement. In recent time, however, many people have come to view Kirchner as both sexist and racist. This is primarily due to the way he has objectified women in many of his works, as we observed in "Sleeping Milly". The linked article further explores the impacts of the Expressionist Movement.

Sigmund Freud

mwittland3 — 2024-10-11 12:04:23 UTC

One of the most influential figures in the field of psychology, Sigmund Freud was an Austrian neurologist born in 1856. Freud is well known for founding psychoanalysis, which explores the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind.

Psychoanalysis

mwittland3 — 2024-10-11 12:04:38 UTC

Experimenting with hypnosis, Freud created a new type of psychological treatment in the late 1890's. He would have patients talk about whatever was on the mind uncensored, including: memories, dreams, thoughts, emotions, and more. Freud would analyze this information in order to treat the patients. Freud also went on to conduct a self-analysis on his own mind, allowing him to further develop his psychoanalytical theory. The linked article provides a deeper look at psychoanalytical theory, exploring the concepts of Rorschach inkblots, Freudian Slip, Free Association, and Transference Analysis.

Totem and Taboo

mwittland3 — 2024-10-11 12:19:54 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, in May of 1913, Freud was writing Totem, "with the feeling that" it would be his "greatest, best, perhaps" last "good book" (Illies, 106). The book focused on taboo against incest, examining the effects of the Oedipus Complex on society. Freud would also explore totemism, arguing that it is rooted in the fear of incest.

Dostoevsky and Parricide

mwittland3 — 2024-10-11 13:48:48 UTC

In 1928, Freud wrote his famous essay Dostoevsky and Parricide, which we annotated as classwork. This essay examines the relationship between Dostoevsky's book The Brothers of Karamazov and the concept of parricide. Freud explored the different facets of Dostoevsky's personality, in an effort to explain his epilepsy condition. Freud supported his arguments with psychoanalytical theory and applied the Oedipus Complex. The end of the essay focused on Dostoevsky's gambling addiction and his relationship with his wife.

Freud's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-10-11 13:58:31 UTC

Even though some of Freud's work is not widely accepted today, especially his theories of child development and the Oedipus Complex, he will always be remembered as a pioneer of psychology and the "Father of Psychoanalysis". The attached article takes a deep look at Freud's scientific legacy throughout the 20th century following his death.

Oskar Kokoschka

mwittland3 — 2024-10-28 18:51:44 UTC

Oskar Kokoschka was a 20th century Austrian poet, artist, and playwright most known for his involvement in the Expressionist Movement.

Chasing Love

mwittland3 — 2024-10-28 18:56:57 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, Kokoschka had "called for the banns for his marriage to Alma Mahler" in July. Mahler was a well known Austrian poet and composer at the time, and upon hearing Oskar's plans of marrying her, "she panics, packs her bags and flees" (Illies, 150). Kokoschka would chase after her, deliver her a self portrait of herself, and constantly write letters to her. While Kokoschka would never end up marrying Mahler, this relationship was very influential to his work.

Trakl and The Wind-Bride

mwittland3 — 2024-10-28 18:57:32 UTC

In July of 1913, Georg Trakl, a poet who's work we studied earlier this semester, visited Kokoschka in Vienna. According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, when Trakl visited Kokoschka, the two would spend time in the studio together. Kokoschka found Trakl's presence "calming" and Trakl would name one of Kokoschka's paintings The Wind-Bride. This is widely regarded as Kokoschka's best work.

Kokoschka's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-10-28 18:57:59 UTC

Kokoschka will always be remembered for his Expressionist work. His illustrations influenced graphic design, and he was highly influential in the Expressionist theater. As a teacher at the Academy in Dresden, he had a lasting impact on his students. The linked website explores Kokoschka's career and legacy in greater detail.

Georg Trakl

mwittland3 — 2024-10-28 18:58:43 UTC

Georg Trakl was an Austrian poet who lived between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was one of the most important figures of the Expressionist Movement.

Grodek

mwittland3 — 2024-10-31 22:55:06 UTC

In 1913, Trakl wrote his most famous poem titled Grodek. The poem is inspired by his personal experience fighting in World War I. Earlier in the semester, we studied Grodek and wrote out our poem based on a modern day interpretation of war. Here is mine:

As the night falls, the sky illuminates

Not to stars, but a rocket's trail

Peaceful lakes reflect the fear of conflict

As a missile's fire breaks up the night

Destroyed cities lie below the blazing sky

A center of human interaction dominated by silence

Armored vehicles battle in the ruins

The silence is broken by their roar

Amid the destruction, the loss is evident

As shadows move through the night

Under the sky of lost hope

The ghosts of the dead roam

To mourn the lives lost

Their spirits drift in the twilight

O demolished city, you carry the sorrow

The legacy of the dead

In Venice

mwittland3 — 2024-10-31 23:08:21 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, during a trip to Venice in August of 1913, Trakl produced one of his greatest poems. Illies described Trakl as the "unhappiest person in the entire world" at the time of this trip, which would inspire his writing of In Venice. The poem challenges the reader with ideas of death and loneliness.

Unfortunate Death

mwittland3 — 2024-10-31 23:13:24 UTC

In 1914, at just 27 years old Trakl passed away due to a cocaine overdose, which was likely intentional. Trakl dealt with depression and had struggled with drug addiction. His experience in World War I only made these issues worse. Although he was gone too soon, Trakl will always be remember for his production of Expressionist poetry. The attached article takes a deeper look at Trakl's life and work.

Bertolt Brecht

mwittland3 — 2024-11-07 18:34:20 UTC

Bertolt Brecht was a German playwriter born in 1898, and he was well known for creating epic theater throughout the first half of the 20th century.

Die Ernte

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 15:01:48 UTC

In 1913: The Year Before the Storm, Illies wrote, "In September the first edition of the school magazine Die Ernte (40 hectographed copies, 15 Pfennigs) is published," mostly "written by a pupil in class 6A called Bertolt Brecht" (Illies, 178). Brecht decided to start his own magazine (Die Ernte), since his poetry was not accepted by other magazines. At this point in his career, Brecht had convinced himself he would eventually be a successful poet, but through Die Ernte, he discovered his playwriting ability. The attached article is the only source of information I could find on Die Ernte outside 1913: The Year Before the Storm.

The Caucasian Chalk Circle

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 15:14:47 UTC

One of Brecht's most famous plays is titled The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Written in 1948, the play is centered around a dispute for the custody of a child between his mother who abandoned him and a young servant who takes care of him. The judge places the child in the center of a chalk circle, offering custody of the child for whoever pulls him from the circle first. The servant concedes, not wanting to harm the child, and his natural mother takes him back. It is impressive to me how this play is still highly relevant even though it was written nearly 75 years ago. On the linked website, I actually found performances of the play going on right now. This demonstrates just how skilled Brecht was as a playwriter.

Brecht's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 15:23:24 UTC

Brecht will always be remembered for his playwriting. Throughout his career, he wrote many famous plays, some of which are still performed to this day. Although he wasn't as successful as a poet, he did not let early struggles in his career prevent him from being successful. The attached article contains a conversation exploring Brecht's legacy in greater depth.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 17:32:35 UTC

Born in 1859, Kaiser Wilhelm II was the last German emperor and King of Prussia, from 1888 to 1918. Wilhelm's abdication marked the end of the German empire.

Monument to the Battle of Nations

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 17:32:50 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, in October of 1913, "Kaiser Wilhelm II inaugurates the Monument to the Battle of Nations" (Illies, 191). The monument commemorated the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. The linked website explores the monument in greater detail. This monument is a prime example of Wilhelminist architecture.

Wilhelm's Abdication

mwittland3 — 2024-11-10 17:47:29 UTC

After Germany's loss in WWI, in 1918, Wilhelm announced his abdication and left the country for Netherlands. His decision making in the war was not supported by the country, and he was viewed by many as an indecisive, ineffective war leader. The Allies even wanted to punish Wilhelm as a war criminal, but the Queen of Netherlands refused to extradite him. The linked article takes a deeper look at Wilhelm's reign.

Else Lasker-Schüler

mwittland3 — 2024-11-16 02:56:33 UTC

Else Lasker-Schüler was an Expressionist German poet and playwriter, known for her poetry exploring the themes of love, loneliness, and religion.

Gottfried Benn

mwittland3 — 2024-11-16 02:56:47 UTC

Gottfried Benn was a German poet and physician, well known for his work exploring nihilism and isolation.

An Emotional Relationship

mwittland3 — 2024-11-16 02:58:13 UTC

In 1913, Lasker-Schüler and Benn were in an intimate relationship. Lasker-Schüler had expressed her love for Benn in numerous poems we read for classwork. In these poems, Lasker-Schüler would express feelings of loneliness, but it seemed as if a loving relationship with Benn was a solution to her problems. According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, in November of 1913, Benn left Lasker-Schüler, leaving her with "unbearable abdominal pains" (Illies, 216). This aligns with the ideas expressed in Listen! and No Solace Here, poems by Lasker-Schüler and Benn respectively. In Listen!, Lasker-Schüler pleads for Benn's love and Benn rejects her in No Solace Here. Benn's actions had a strong emotional impact on Lasker-Schüler, inspiring her future work.

Lasker-Schüler's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 18:57:19 UTC

Due to her Jewish background, Lasker-Schüler was forced to flee Nazi-Germany in 1933. She moved around quite a bit in the latter years of her life, spending time in Switzerland and Jerusalem. In 1945, Lasker-Schüler passed away due to a heart attack. She will always be remembered as Gottfried Benn described her, the "greatest poet Germany has ever had". The attached article provides a more in depth description of Lasker-Schüler's life, especially her late years.

Benn's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 18:59:33 UTC

Gottfried Benn is remembered as one of the more influential poets in Germany after WWII. Like Lasker-Schüler, Benn too was affected by the Nazi regime. Rather than fleeing the country, however, Benn would join the Nazi military to avoid harassment. Even though his involvement in the Nazi regime has certainly impacted his cultural legacy, Benn was still a very influential poet nonetheless. The linked essay examines Benn's influence on later poets.

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 19:54:49 UTC

Sources for images and information

Robert Musil

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 20:47:26 UTC

Robert Musil was an Austrian writer, best known for his unfinished novel The Man Without Qualities.

A Man Without Qualities

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 21:07:11 UTC

According to 1913: The Year Before the Storm, in December of 1913, Robert Musil took "notes from which his novel The Man Without Qualities will later grow. Illies continued citing specific sentences Musil wrote (Illies, 246). The Man Without Qualities is an extremely long novel, well over a thousand pages. Musil would publish the unfinished story on 3 separate occasions, in 1930, 1933, and 1943. Evidently, Musil spent nearly half of his life writing The Man Without Qualities. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is that it was never completed, and it leaves interpretation up to the reader. The activity we completed earlier in the semester, writing alternate paragraphs of the story following an early chapter was very engaging. It showed just how challenging it can be to interpret and translate an unfinished story of great depth. I have attached my writing from this activity, as well as a reflection.

Musil's Legacy

mwittland3 — 2024-11-17 21:25:28 UTC

Since the novel was so influential, Robert Musil is effectively remembered solely for writing The Man Without Qualities. Although he did write some other books, including The Confusions of Young Törless and Drei Frauen, none of his other works were close to the success of The Man Without Qualities. The novel is still relatively popular, particularly for its exploration of self identity. The linked article explores Musil's life and the legacy of The Man Without Qualities in great depth.

January & February - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 17:59:07 UTC

After reading the January and February sections of Illies' book, I found Kafka and Picasso to be two of the most significant figures involved. I found Kafka's relationship struggles particularly interesting, and the Armory Show was surely a turning point in the history of modern art. I felt both of these sections were important to highlight in my take on 1913. Engaging with Kafka's work throughout the semester has provided a unique perspective on the reality of life in Germany in this time period. Researching Picasso's art was awesome, especially looking at the Cubist work.

March & April - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 18:06:40 UTC

I found Bernhard Kellermann and Arnold Schönberg to be some of the more interesting figures included in the March and April sections of 1913: The Year Before the Storm. The Skandalkonzert was definitely one of the more interesting events we researched this semester, and it was cool to see Illies mention it in the book. Der Tunnel was my favorite film we watched this semester, and it was cool to research more about Kellermann's life and work.

May & June - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 18:11:41 UTC

While reading the May and June sections, I identified Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Sigmund Freud to be two important figures I should include in my project. The dissolution of Die Brücke was an interesting topic Illies mentioned, and I see it as a pretty unfortunate ending to a very talented group of artists. I had a good bit of background knowledge on Freud from my taking Psychology classes in high school, but it was cool to take a deep dive into some of his most notable works. It is upsetting how the Nazi control of Germany impacted the prominent figures in Illies' story, including Kirchner. It was disturbing to discover the Nazi's censorship of art, as freedom of expression is a fundamental human right.

July & August - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 18:26:12 UTC

Among all the important figures Illies included in the July and August sections, Kokoschka and Trakl stood out to me. It was neat to see how Kokoschka's relationship with Alma Mahler had impacted his work, just as romantic relationships had affected the work of other prominent figures in the book. It was cool to write our own poems based on Trakl's Grodek, but it was really disappointing to see how he passed away so young upon further research.

September & October - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 18:27:31 UTC

From the September and October sections of the text, I decided to highlight Bertolt Brecht and Kaiser Wilhelm in my project. It was a bit more challenging to research these two, as I had little to no background knowledge on them. The way Brecht discovered his playwriting ability through a poetry magazine was inspiring, and it reminded me about how we discover many of our best skills through similar but fundamentally different activities. Although I couldn't find very much to write about Wilhelm, it was interesting to see that he was the last emperor of Germany. It really goes to show how transformative this time period was in German history.

November & December - Conclusion

mwittland3 — 2024-11-21 18:27:46 UTC

After reading the last two sections of Illies' book, I decided to highlight Else Lasker-Schüler, Gottfried Benn, and Robert Musil in my project, three figures we have studied this semester. It was cool to see Illies mention Lasker-Schüler and Benn's relationship in the text, and it made me realize how closely our classwork has aligned with the progression of 1913: The Year Before the Storm. I enjoyed researching the lives of these two in much greater detail, and with this added context I gained a much better understanding of what influenced their work. While I was a little disappointed, I was not surprised to find out that The Man Without Qualities is the only work of Musil that is popular these days.

Schönberg Concerts

mwittland3 — 2024-12-07 02:57:42 UTC

For part of our classwork, we were tasked with listening to two concerts featuring Schönberg's music. I have attached my response paper to these concerts, where I describe the difference between the musical pieces performed in the concerts and the difference between the two orchestras. In this paper, I also reflect on the Skandalkonzert and explore the role technology plays in my experience of attending the concert. This experience made me more knowledgeable of Schönberg's style of music and helped me understand why his work was so influential.