Professor Dr. Gerhard Richter

Biography

Gerhard Richter is the L. Herbert Ballou University Professor of German Studies and Comparative Literature at Brown University, where he also serves as the inaugural director and co-founder of Brown’s Certificate Program in European Critical Thought. His research interests encompass aesthetic theory, European critical thought, and modern German literature and culture, including photography and the Frankfurt School, particularly the works of Walter Benjamin and Theodor W. Adorno. Richter has a strong focus on the intersections of literary writing and philosophy, exploring themes associated with Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Derrida, while also addressing the complexities of intellectual, cultural, and political inheritance as well as the theory of poetics and survival. He obtained his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1996 and has published numerous works, including eleven single-authored books, seven edited books, and over 70 journal articles and book chapters. His recent publications include "Great Allegory: World-Decay World-Opening Work of Art" and "Das Überleben," both of which highlight his ongoing engagement with philosophical aesthetics and the legacies of modern thought. Additionally, Richter has received several accolades for his teaching and scholarship and has participated in numerous academic committees and editorial boards, reinforcing his integral role within the academic community.

Research Interests

Experience