Times of crisis, social change and dissatisfaction fostered longings for strong leaders, saviors and role models. Doubts about religion and church lead to the creation of “substitute saints” from secular life.
The new exhibition Genius, idol, star – worship in the 19th century of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nuremberg invites you to recognize historical patterns of veneration – and to ask why cults around people and hype around geniuses and stars still shape our culture today.