Lehrstück

The abstract Lehrstück forms the companion piece to the radio feature Der Lindberghflug [Lindbergh’s Flight], a collaborative work for radio by Bertolt Brecht, Paul Hindemith und Kurt Weill. The latter work takes the concrete example of the successful flight over the ocean by the American Charles Lindbergh to demonstrate the mastering of technology by human beings, whereas Lehrstück demonstrates the underlying problems and consequences encountered by an individual who overestimates the power of technology in order to place himself in a superior position to others. Failure of technology – here symbolised by the plane crash – forces him to recognise that power leads to downfall when it possesses no benefit for the general community. This type of superiority can only result in the degradation to a ‘nobody’ and ultimately also death.