Introduction: "Scenes that do not belong in the light of day" -- Against Nature: Adalbert Stifter -- Base Matter: Gustav Freytag -- Iconolatry and Iconoclasm: Theodor Fontane -- Presence as Profanation: Arno Holz -- Dead Ends: Gottfried Benn -- Filth: Franz Kafka -- Coda: "As if she were saying something shameless."