Peggy Mädler’s new novel, “Selbstregulierung des Herzens” (Self-Regulation of the Heart), delves into the lives of young people in East Germany grappling with the complexities of a system built on control and the burgeoning world of computer technology. The book, published in 2024, explores how personal relationships intertwine with the prevailing belief in steerability, progress, and oversight within the German Democratic Republic (DDR). The core of the story revolves around the fascinating intersection of human emotion and the technical principles of cybernetics, a field that examines regulatory systems in machines and living beings.
Mädler, a Berlin-based writer, dramatist, and director, initially encountered the central idea for her novel during research for a theater project. While exploring the archives of a former steelworks, she discovered a book titled “Der Mensch als Regler” (Man as Regulator). Within it, she found an essay by a Russian cybernetician titled “Die Selbstregulierung des Herzens” – “The Self-Regulation of the Heart.” This title, she recounts, immediately resonated with her, encompassing the full spectrum of emotional regulation, from control to co-regulation. However, the essay itself proved to be a highly mathematical treatise on the mechanics of the heart, a complexity she admits to only partially understanding. This disparity – the poetic title versus the technical content – became a key inspiration for her work.
The Allure of Control in a Controlled Society
The novel’s title itself embodies a central tension: the seemingly contradictory pairing of technical and emotional concepts. Mädler’s work examines how the desire for control permeated both the political and personal spheres in the DDR. The era’s fascination with cybernetics, the science of communication and control systems, mirrored a broader societal belief in the possibility of managing and optimizing all aspects of life. This belief extended to the realm of human emotions, with attempts to understand and regulate feelings as a means of maintaining social order. The book explores how individuals navigated this environment, seeking connection and loyalty while simultaneously grappling with the pressures of conformity and surveillance.
According to a review in Tagesspiegel, the novel asks a fundamental question: at what point does a system collapse? Mädler’s narrative doesn’t offer easy answers, instead presenting a nuanced portrait of individuals caught within the constraints of a rigid ideology. The story doesn’t explicitly focus on the invention of the internet by the Soviet Union, but rather uses the concept of cybernetics as a lens through which to examine the DDR’s attempts to control information and regulate behavior. The idea of a technologically advanced, yet ultimately flawed, system is central to the novel’s exploration of power and control.
From Theater to Novels: Mädler’s Artistic Journey
Peggy Mädler’s path to becoming a novelist is rooted in a diverse academic and artistic background. She studied Theater, Educational Science, and Cultural Studies in Berlin and earned a doctorate in Cultural Studies in 2008. In 2007, she co-founded the “Labor für kontrafaktisches Denken” (Laboratory for Counterfactual Thinking) with Julia Schleipfer, a collective dedicated to exploring alternative histories and possibilities. Her work has been supported by numerous fellowships, including grants from the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Akademie der Künste. Mädler’s previous novel, “Wohin wir gehen” (Where We Move), explored family connections across generations and national borders.
Cybernetics and the Human Heart: A Complex Interplay
The concept of cybernetics, as explored in Mädler’s novel, isn’t simply a technical framework. it’s a way of understanding the interconnectedness of systems. As defined by Norbert Wiener, the founder of cybernetics, the field investigates how systems regulate themselves, drawing parallels between machines, biological organisms, and social structures. The novel uses this framework to examine how individuals attempt to regulate their own emotions and navigate the complexities of their relationships within a highly controlled society. The seemingly cold, mathematical language of cybernetics is juxtaposed with the warmth and vulnerability of human experience, creating a compelling tension at the heart of the story.
In an interview with Galiani Berlin, Mädler explained that the title “Selbstregulierung des Herzens” came from a Russian cybernetician’s essay on the mechanics of the heart. She was struck by the contrast between the poetic title and the complex mathematical formulas that comprised the essay itself. This contrast, she says, highlights the inherent difficulty of understanding and controlling something as complex as the human heart, both literally and figuratively. The novel explores this theme through the experiences of its characters, who are constantly striving to find balance and connection in a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable.
Looking Ahead: The Legacy of the DDR
“Selbstregulierung des Herzens” offers a compelling exploration of life in the DDR and the lasting impact of its ideology. The novel’s focus on control, regulation, and the search for connection resonates with contemporary concerns about surveillance, privacy, and the challenges of building meaningful relationships in a digital age. Mädler’s work invites readers to reflect on the ways in which systems – political, technological, and social – shape our lives and the importance of maintaining our individual agency in the face of overwhelming forces. The novel’s continued discussion and analysis suggest its relevance extends beyond a historical recounting of the DDR, offering insights into the human condition itself.
Peggy Mädler’s latest work, co-authored with Annett Gröschner and Wenke Seemann, “Drei ostdeutsche Frauen betrinken sich und gründen den idealen Staat” (Three East German Women Receive Drunk and Found the Ideal State), was published in January 2024 by Carl Hanser Verlag, indicating a continued exploration of East German identity and societal structures. Readers interested in learning more about Mädler’s work can find further information on her Wikipedia page and through Galiani Berlin.
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