Sick bodies and spaces of alterity: spaces of (in)tangibility in recent Basque and East German narratives

Resumen

This article aims at analyzing alterity, periphery and memory in the works offour writers of Basque and German literature: Jenisjoplin (2017) by Uxue Alberdi, belzuria (2014) by Ixiar Rozas, Familie der geflügelten Tiger (2016) by Paula Fürstenberg andDas Fell (2017) by Maren Wurster. All four young female writers belonging to the samegeneration, they create new spaces for reflection on alterity, periphery and memory throughthe representation of sick bodies. Focusing on the field of perceptions in their works, specialemphasis will be placed on the literary representation of the senses of touch and hearing,in order to compare the embodiment of the numinosum when approaching the other. In theliterarization of sick bodies by Alberdi, Rozas, Fürstenberg and Wurster, skin and voice standout as key strategies for the approach to alterity and memory. In addition, as these authorsstand for the post-generation of crucial events of the 20th-century Basque and German histories, the literary relationship of these authors with the memories of previous generationswill be compared. Their contribution to the communicative, social and cultural memoryof Basque political and social conflicts, as well as of past wars (Alberdi, Rozas) and of EastGermany or German Democratic Republic (Fürstenberg, Wurster) will be confirmed.