Umkehr der Beweislast

Umkehr der Beweislast (reversal of the burden of proof), a central term of the CRC 1472 Transformations of the Popular, describes the shift from an axiological framework of asymmetrical ‘high’/‘low’ semantics to a distinction between ‘popular’ and ‘non-popular’. What used to be validated through its affiliation to high culture may face new pressures to legitimize itself in a system focused on being noticed by many. Popularity thus functions as a resource that can enhance or challenge evaluation standards. This is illustrated and concretized through five case studies: from the Schiller-Nicolai debate in the 18th century, to Popliteratur around 2000, and digital platforms such as the official Perry Rhodan forum, the social-reading-platform Wattpad, or Instagram as a space for local political communication. It indicates that popularity does not replace existing hierarchies but rather creates tensions between ‘high’ and ‘low’ in new regimes of valuation and valorization. The Umkehr der Beweislast describes dynamic processes that combine qualitative and quantitative approaches. Therefore, a multi-perspective analysis is crucial for understanding power structures as well as legitimization and evaluation mechanisms.