Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous ‘micro-gramms’. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous ‘micro-gramms’. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous 'micro-gramms'. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appre... more Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appreciation, although anecdotal and parental reports provide some evidence to the contrary. This paper reviews the cognitive and affective processes involved in humor and recent neurological findings. It examines humor expression and understanding in autism and Asperger syndrome in the context of the main psychological theories (Theory of Mind, Executive Functions, Weak Central Coherence and Laterization models) and associated neural substrates. In the concluding sections, examples of humor displayed by individuals with autism/Asperger syndrome which appear to challenge the above theories are analyzed and areas for further research are suggested.
Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous ‘micro-gramms’. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous ‘micro-gramms’. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, ... more Robert Walser (1878-1956), one of the great literary geniuses of 20th century German literature, was also one of the most mysterious writers of his time. Born in Switzerland in 1878 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 50 and spent the remaining two and a half decades of his life in Swiss psychiatric hospitals until his death in 1956. His literary legacy consists of four novels, numerous pieces of short prose (essays and stories) as well as 526 pages of pencil notes written in minuscule script, the famous 'micro-gramms'. Although highly unsuccessful during his lifetime and leading the life of an artist on the margins of society, his writings have been linked to Kleist, Kafka, Joyce and Beckett. The silencing of Walser's unique voice by mental illness and his disappearance behind the walls of psychiatric hospitals has been considered a tragedy and over the years doubts were raised about the true nature of his illness.
Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appre... more Research has shown that individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome are impaired in humor appreciation, although anecdotal and parental reports provide some evidence to the contrary. This paper reviews the cognitive and affective processes involved in humor and recent neurological findings. It examines humor expression and understanding in autism and Asperger syndrome in the context of the main psychological theories (Theory of Mind, Executive Functions, Weak Central Coherence and Laterization models) and associated neural substrates. In the concluding sections, examples of humor displayed by individuals with autism/Asperger syndrome which appear to challenge the above theories are analyzed and areas for further research are suggested.
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