Creating ‘Heimat’ in the City

‘Volkskultur’ in the Viennese Interwar Period

Abstract

The article focuses on the signi cance of Vienna, Austria’s capital and only major city, for the creation and development of ‘Volkskultur’ (folk culture) during the interwar period. It examines ‘Volkskultur’ as a modern concept to cope with times of crisis. The contribution locates this culture in urban processes, dynamics and discourses on ‘Heimat’. It presents ‘Volkskultur’ as an influential large-scale urban popular culture and Vienna as the central and biggest arena of folk cultural formats and practices in Austria.