II, Theaterstücke 11, (Reigen, 2), Reigen: USA, Seite 9

11. Reigen
box 19/1
contrary, they are intended to repel one from
the kind of ’love’ depicted in the ten pictures.
In this piece, one may see, with penetrative
observation, a melancholy train of thought
evolved by the writer as the result of close
study of human society. He has written the
piece that good may come of it. This idea is
so strikingly apparent to a normally sensitive
person that any incidental portion which might
possibly be regarded as obscene sinks into the
background. Hence the book cannot be de¬
prived of a moral value. On the question of
the obscenity of the book, the Court, adopting
the opinion of the 6th Criminal Term of the III
Landgericht handed down March 22, 1921, had
adjudged the book as not obscene. Accord¬
ing to the opinion of the court it is not calen¬
lated to violate, from a sexual standpoint, feel¬
ings of modesty and propriety (cf. RGSt. 32,
420, 37. 316, Ebermayer StGß Secs. 183 Anm.
28. 428
The Court has, therefore, reached the con¬
viction, after a strict appraisal of the perform¬
ance that the latter, as produced bythe defend¬
ants in the Little Theatre after June 22, 1921,
is not caleulated objectively as regards matters
of sex to violate modesty or feelings of propri¬
etv. The normally sensitive man we consider
is the one who ordinarily experiences the feel¬
ings commonly experienced in a morally sensi¬
tive community (ef. the settled decision of the
Reichsgericht).
As already explained, the Schnitzler book is
not considered obscene, and it has been proved
that there is a moral valne inherent in it and
also in the performances.?
“In conclusion, we may mention the exhaust¬
ive evidence which occupied several days, but
which has only an incidental importance in
connection with the decision, forthe Court was
placed in a position through the special per¬
formance of Reigen’ given for it as part of

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