The Modern Satiric Grotesque and Its TraditionsUniversity Press of Kentucky, 1991 - 212 páginas Thomas Mann predicted that no manner or mode in literature would be so typical or so pervasive in the twentieth century as the grotesque. Assuredly he was correct. The subjects and methods of our comic literature (and much of our other literature) are regularly disturbing and often repulsive—no laughing matter. In this ambitious study, John R. Clark seeks to elucidate the major tactics and topics deployed in modern literary dark humor. In Part I he explores the satiric strategies of authors of the grotesque, strategies that undercut conventional usage and form: the de-basement of heroes, the denigration of language and style, the disruption of normative narrative technique, and even the debunking of authors themselves. Part II surveys major recurrent themes of grotesquerie: tedium, scatology, cannibalism, dystopia, and Armageddon or the end of the world. Clearly the literature of the grotesque is obtrusive and ugly, its effect morbid and disquieting—and deliberately meant to be so. Grotesque literature may be unpleasant, but it is patently insightful. Indeed, as Clark shows, all of the strategies and topics employed by this literature stem from age-old and spirited traditions. Critics have complained about this grim satiric literature, asserting that it is dank, cheerless, unsavory, and negative. But such an interpretation is far too simplistic. On the contrary, as Clark demonstrates, such grotesque writing, in its power and its prevalence in the past and present, is in fact conventional, controlled, imaginative, and vigorous—no mean achievements for any body of art. |
Dentro del libro
Resultados 1-3 de 33
Página 71
... tale is recounted with the combined strategies of Dickens , melodrama , humdrum detective story , silent cinema , and surrealism . Then Dograr is finally whisked out of his nightmarish en- trapment and set , smoking a cigar , walking ...
... tale is recounted with the combined strategies of Dickens , melodrama , humdrum detective story , silent cinema , and surrealism . Then Dograr is finally whisked out of his nightmarish en- trapment and set , smoking a cigar , walking ...
Página 74
... tale . Indeed , the reader is caught in some in - between species of time , encountering tales from the far - distant future that are nonetheless so fragmented and disorderly that they seem to be epical , ancient futurist documents that ...
... tale . Indeed , the reader is caught in some in - between species of time , encountering tales from the far - distant future that are nonetheless so fragmented and disorderly that they seem to be epical , ancient futurist documents that ...
Página 177
... Tale , ” in Hiero- glyphic Tales ( London , 1926 ) , 53-54 . Much the same ambiguity clings to the ex- pression " God forgive him ! " Is the prelate in need of forgiveness because he dined upon a fetus , because he swallowed it at a ...
... Tale , ” in Hiero- glyphic Tales ( London , 1926 ) , 53-54 . Much the same ambiguity clings to the ex- pression " God forgive him ! " Is the prelate in need of forgiveness because he dined upon a fetus , because he swallowed it at a ...
Otras ediciones - Ver todo
Términos y frases comunes
absurd American appears artist authors become called cannibalism century chapter characters civilization classic comedy comic concept concerning consider Consult contemporary continue conventions course critic culture Cynics dark death Decadence decline destruction early entire entropy especially essay fact fall fiction figures finally frequently further future genre George grotesque hand Hence Henry Hero human humor ideas imagination instance James John kind language later learned literary literature lives London machine major matter means mechanical merely modern nature never notes novel observes once particularly past perhaps plays popular present progress reader reason recent Review Robert romantic satire satirist scene sense serve society story suggests sure Swift tale theme things thought tion toilet topic tradition trans turn twentieth century universe vision writing York