Monday, May 14, 2012

What are the themes in The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum, and how would you explain them?

One of the major themes in Boll's The Lost
Honour of Katharina Blum
is the power of the media to shape "fact" and
"objectivity."  The novel is narrated from the perspective of a reporter and supposedly
all the "facts" of the case regarding the murder of Totges are revealed.  However, as
the novel progresses, it becomes clear that the "facts" are still being presented in a
subjective manner as to paint a particular picture of Blum and her intentions.  Sex and
violence quickly overshadow the case and tarnish any reputation that Blum had prior to
the murder investigation.  Boll's novel is a reminder to us that the public image of a
person is greatly controlled by the power of the media and that "objectivity" is really
not possible.

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