Exploring Mysticism, Aesthetics, and Experience: An Interview with Professor Niklaus Largier

Niklaus Largier is Chair in the department of Comparative Literature, is a professor in the departments of German and Comparative Literature, and is affiliated with the Programs in Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, and the Designated Emphasis in Critical Theory.

His scholarship covers an extensive range of interests, including the intersections of literature, philosophy, theology, and other fields of knowledge within medieval and early modern German literature. Professor Largier’s work delves into topics such as ascetic practices, eroticism, and the literary imagination, as well as the influence of mystical traditions on German thought. In this interview, we discuss his research, including his focus on the history of fantasy, emotions, and sensory experiences across medieval, early modern, and modern cultures, and his recent projects on the stimulation of the senses—particularly taste and touch—within diverse cultural contexts.