Horizontverschmelzung in the Film Jenseits der Stille (German Edition)

The present study, completed in 2009, examines the field of Social Work, earning a grade of 1.8 from the Duale Hochschule Gera-Eisenach (formerly Berufsakademie Thürigen in Gera), in the course of Hermeneutics. The work is presented in German.

The abstract reads: "You just don't understand me." This is a familiar phrase, one that everyone has heard and likely uttered, or at least thought, at some point. True understanding is not always easy; it is an "art." In his work "Truth and Method: Outlines of a Philosophical Hermeneutics," Hans-Georg Gadamer delves into this art and attempts to develop a comprehensive theory of understanding.

In this paper, I will engage with Gadamer's theory. While Gadamer's primary focus is on understanding texts, I will endeavor to demonstrate that his theories can indeed be applied to interpersonal relationships, and that the concept of "fusion of horizons" he describes also takes place between people.

In the first part, I will briefly explain the key concepts, such as prejudice, the hermeneutic circle, horizon, horizon expansion, and fusion of horizons. In the second part, I will examine how the fusion of horizons occurs between two individuals, using the film "Beyond Silence" as an example.

Gadamer's work "Truth and Method" is central to this study. He argues that understanding is not a mere subjective process, but rather a dialogue between the interpreter and the text, or in this case, between two individuals. The hermeneutic circle, where the whole is understood through the parts, and the parts through the whole, is a crucial component of Gadamer's theory.

Gadamer also emphasizes the role of prejudice in the process of understanding. He contends that our preconceptions, far from being obstacles, are necessary for understanding, as they form the backdrop against which new information is interpreted. The fusion of horizons, where the interpreter's horizon and the horizon of the text or person being understood, merge, is the ultimate goal of understanding.

In the second part of the study, I will apply Gadamer's concepts to the interpersonal dynamics depicted in the film "Beyond Silence." The film tells the story of a young woman, Lara, who grows up with deaf parents and struggles to bridge the gap between their world and the hearing world. Through an analysis of the characters' interactions, I will demonstrate how the fusion of horizons takes place, allowing for mutual understanding to emerge.

By exploring Gadamer's hermeneutical theory and its application to interpersonal relationships, this study aims to shed light on the complexities of human understanding and communication. The findings may have implications for various fields, from social work to psychology, where the ability to empathize and connect with others is of paramount importance.

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