As a "jack of all trades," "contemporary poetry star," and "classic during his lifetime," the poet Robert Gernhardt (1937-2006) has been acclaimed by critics. But how did his canonization come about, given that he began his career as a lyricist for Otto Waalkes and co-founder of "Titanic"? This volume examines the theory and poetry of the poeta doctus for the first time as a complete work and places it within its social and media contexts, analyzing it through previous and contemporary poetic concepts and theories of comedy. The author meticulously investigates Gernhardt's renowned and lesser-known poetry, including its parodies, satires, nonsense-infused, and both comedic and non-comedic poems. Dedicated chapters with a media studies focus explore Gernhardt's rise from the 68er subculture to the current canon. Thus, this work clarifies two aspects.