In a thought-provoking discussion, Steve Dowden, a Professor of German literature, and John Burt, an esteemed Professor of American Literature, delve into Thomas Mann's "Doctor Faustus." They explore the intertwining of art and politics, discussing Mann's critique of cultural exhaustion and the demonic qualities within art. Insights into Leverkühn’s ambitions, his failures in love, and the implications of his pact with the devil reveal deeper meanings. The conversation also touches on the impact of Adorno and the troubling absence of anti-Semitism in Mann's portrayal.
