Sub-Project Gloom Goes Global: Epistemologies and Ontologies of Melancholy between Europe and Asia (MC 11.2)

Project Leaders: Frank Grüner, Maike Rotzoll

This project studied the history of transcultural dynamics and the exchange of knowledge in the area of melancholy between Europe, Russia and Japan from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1920s. By analysing three different case studies, it became quite evident that transnational ties between intellectuals and scientists in Europe and beyond were a rule rather than an exception: The transmission of thoughts was not only limited to classical fields such as medicine and literature but also included newly established sciences such as criminal anthropology, psychology and psychiatry. Taking melancholy as an example the project showed the meaning and influence of certain concepts crossing national boundaries and stimulating transcultural knowledge production.