Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

About Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) stands as one of history's most significant cultural figures, ranking #83 in overall historical importance according to MIT's Pantheon project. This German writer and polymath was a central figure of German Romanticism and Weimar Classicism, known globally for literary works such as the epic play Faust, which explores profound philosophical themes of ambition, knowledge, and the human condition.

Despite this towering historical stature, Goethe's modern internet attention in 2025 suggests a notable disconnect. He garnered 863K annualized Wikipedia views, placing him far behind contemporary figures like J. R. R. Tolkien (#89 importance, 2.9M views) and even significantly behind less historically critical figures such as David Lynch (6.8M views). With an Attention Gap calculated at approximately 1x, his current digital engagement is surprisingly low relative to his massive cultural and literary influence, indicating a significant portion of his importance is not translating into current web traffic.

This relative lack of engagement is also suggested by his recent online trend data: the 2025 annualized view count dropped by -8.4% year-over-year, and his Q1 vs Q3 momentum showed a further -12% decline, pointing towards waning, rather than surging, modern digital visibility.