معرفی
Dr. Franziska Polanski is a physician, author, and interdisciplinary researcher based at the Marsiliuskolleg of the University of Heidelberg. Her work explores age stereotypes in cultural memory, focusing on their representation in German newspaper and magazine caricatures through a project analyzing 3,000 cartoons. She bridges science and art, combining expertise in medicine, theater studies, German studies, and art history.
- Studied medicine, theater studies, German studies, and art history
- Collaborated with opera director Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
- Author of satirical texts for Süddeutsche Zeitung and Ullstein Verlag
Her research examines how historical stereotypes of aging (e.g., "Senex amans" from ancient comedy or "Vecchi" from Commedia dell'arte) persist in modern caricatures. The project uses interdisciplinary methods, including social science content analysis, art historical hermeneutics, and neurobiological insights into humor's emotional impact. Key findings include the underrepresentation of elderly individuals (especially women and those over 80) and the reinforcement of outdated, negative age clichés like "the pensioner on the park bench."
Polanski highlights the psychological role of humor in confronting fears of aging (frailty, forgetfulness) and advocates for public exhibitions to spark broader discourse on aging. She emphasizes caricaturists' reliance on collective subconscious stereotypes rather than progressive gerontological perspectives.
