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In the Penal Colony by Franz Kafka (1919)
On an invitation from the Commandant, a traveler is visiting a penal colony. In particular, he's being shown the special apparatus used there. It consists of a bed, an inscriber, and a harrow, each of which serves an unpleasant purpose. This device and the whole philosophy of the penal colony are the work of the previous Commandant.

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Videos

Literature: Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka is a guide to some very dark feelings most of us know well concerned with powerlessness, self-disgust and anxiety. This literary genius turned the stuff of nightmares into redemptive, consoling art.

SOURCE: The school of Life (2016), posted on YouTube, Duration: 10:32 mins, URL: https://youtu.be/g4LyzhkDNBM

What makes something "Kafkaesque"? - Noah Tavlin

The term Kafkaesque has entered the vernacular to describe unnecessarily complicated and frustrating experiences, especially with bureaucracy. But does standing in a long line to fill out confusing paperwork really capture the richness of Kafka’s vision? Beyond the word’s casual use, what makes something "Kafkaesque"? Noah Tavlin explains.

Full lesson available.

SOURCE: TED-Ed (2016, posted on YouTube, Duration: 5:03 mins, URL: https://youtu.be/wkPR4Rcf4ww