An Analysis of a Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka
Vivianna Orsini
Eng.298
Prof. Stevens
“The tragedy of never finding food that you like”
An analysis of A Hunger Artist
By Franz Kafka
Most people might have trouble seeing fasting as an art form. Fasting is commonly seen as a way to show devotion to God. Often art can be a way to share our suffering with the world. The hunger artist is no different. The virtuosity of the hunger artist was his devotion to God and bringing his audience closer to God by making them suffer with him. The commercialization of his art over time makes it lose its meaning which leaves him starved both physically and spiritually. A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka displays the negative effects business can have on art in a story of an artist futile quest for spiritual fulfillment. Kafka uses a professional faster to intensify the hardships of a starving, misunderstood artist whose passion surpasses his own basic needs. He is confined to a cage much like a starving artist is confined to his studio apartment. The clock in his cage symbolizes the conventional world. While it dictates the schedule of the rest of society, for an artist it bares no relevance, so he ignores it. He ignores everything detaching himself from his audience. “…Paying no attention to anyone or anything, not even to the all important striking of the clock that was the only piece of furniture in his cage…” (208) He is in total control of his fast.
The hunger artist isn’t independent for long. He requires the assistance of an impresario who immediately exploits his suffering for a little capital gain. The artist always wanted to go longer than 40 days but the impresario wouldn’t allow it. He put a hold onto the faster’s artistic capabilities because of the common marketing knowledge that the audience will lose interest after 40 days. He was a rein forcer to the audience that his performance was purely for entertainment. He would “heighten” the experience for the audience by using
Eng.298
Prof. Stevens
“The tragedy of never finding food that you like”
An analysis of A Hunger Artist
By Franz Kafka
Most people might have trouble seeing fasting as an art form. Fasting is commonly seen as a way to show devotion to God. Often art can be a way to share our suffering with the world. The hunger artist is no different. The virtuosity of the hunger artist was his devotion to God and bringing his audience closer to God by making them suffer with him. The commercialization of his art over time makes it lose its meaning which leaves him starved both physically and spiritually. A Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka displays the negative effects business can have on art in a story of an artist futile quest for spiritual fulfillment. Kafka uses a professional faster to intensify the hardships of a starving, misunderstood artist whose passion surpasses his own basic needs. He is confined to a cage much like a starving artist is confined to his studio apartment. The clock in his cage symbolizes the conventional world. While it dictates the schedule of the rest of society, for an artist it bares no relevance, so he ignores it. He ignores everything detaching himself from his audience. “…Paying no attention to anyone or anything, not even to the all important striking of the clock that was the only piece of furniture in his cage…” (208) He is in total control of his fast.
The hunger artist isn’t independent for long. He requires the assistance of an impresario who immediately exploits his suffering for a little capital gain. The artist always wanted to go longer than 40 days but the impresario wouldn’t allow it. He put a hold onto the faster’s artistic capabilities because of the common marketing knowledge that the audience will lose interest after 40 days. He was a rein forcer to the audience that his performance was purely for entertainment. He would “heighten” the experience for the audience by using