Re: Unthinkable in Literature


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My reply would not really be a reply. Instead I would ask who are the writers
whose work uses the three uses of history set out in Nietzsche, Genealogy,
History.
1 Parody and farcical use - Directed against reality, and opposes the
theme of history as reminisence or recognition.
2 Systematic dissociation of identity - opposes history given as
continuity or representative of tradition.
3 Sacrifice of the subject of knowledge - directed against the truth and
opposes history as knowledge.

I say this because of a fear for what may result from subject based
literature. It seems to me that faustian discourse is as transcendental as
fustian discourse. Sexuality and death are important themes in literature.
They bring with them habits of creating prejudices. As these are themes that
recur in the political and cultural socialisation of societies they are apt
to create hierachies in multiple different ways. As writers reintroduce
ancient themes in up-to-date techniques they repeat and practice an obscure
mystification. Reconstructing those things we think of without thought helps
an honest understanding of our past. Generations of people from countries
whose colonial expansion dominated world events centuries ago grew up with
prejudice, bigotry, hatred, snobbery, etc etc., and exalted ideas about their
own Nation State. This of course backed by ideas of gender, racial and
religious supremacy that we still live with today. Breaking with these
boundaries and limits, writing should consider the effects of poverty as well
as the effects of the mega-wealthy organisations and individuals. Writing
should investigate education and what is taught as well as what is learnt.

Violence as an abuse of power/knowledge relationships should not be given a
silent decree. But the unthinkable will emerge from this. Writing that
recognises writng propelled by a onslaught of thoughts that revitalise the
collapsed inertia of Sovereign subjectivity surely has a responsibility. In
whatever shape or form the ruthless tyrannies of despots must be addressed
(so that no one suffers). Reincarnations, new words that address the ideal
future, set up .... (probably) more disintegration and fragmentation. Saints
are created from fictional accounts of Writers who expeienced some kind of
martydom for their faith. Faith leads to attempts to convert others. Instead
I suggest (all too hastily I regret) let writing target errors, write about
writing that unloosens the fabricated knowledge inherited from the past.
Writers that can do this will be concerned to re-examine power in all its
manifestations: physical and mental. These writers will be reconstructing the
abstract thoughts that seem to appear in the mind as knowledge to people with
prejudice.
cheers EP (apologies this is not well thought out. I too have not been a
subscriber to this list for long, but as a literary question has appeared at
last ....

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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>My reply would not really be a reply. Instead I would ask who are the writers
<BR>whose work uses the three uses of history set out in <I>Nietzsche, Genealogy,
<BR>History.
<BR></I>1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Parody and farcical use - Directed against reality, and opposes the
<BR>theme of history as reminisence or recognition.
<BR>2 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Systematic dissociation of identity - opposes history given as
<BR>continuity or representative of tradition.
<BR>3 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sacrifice of the subject of knowledge - directed against the truth and
<BR>opposes history as knowledge.
<BR>
<BR>I say this because of a fear for what may result from subject based
<BR>literature. It seems to me that faustian discourse is as transcendental as
<BR>fustian discourse. Sexuality and death are important themes in literature.
<BR>They bring with them habits of creating prejudices. As these are themes that
<BR>recur in the political and cultural socialisation of societies they are apt
<BR>to create hierachies in multiple different ways. As writers reintroduce
<BR>ancient themes in up-to-date techniques they repeat and practice an obscure
<BR>mystification. Reconstructing those things we think of without thought helps
<BR>an honest understanding of our past. Generations of people from countries
<BR>whose colonial expansion dominated world events centuries ago grew up with
<BR>prejudice, bigotry, hatred, snobbery, etc etc., and exalted ideas about their
<BR>own Nation State. This of course backed by ideas of gender, racial and
<BR>religious supremacy that we still live with today. Breaking with these
<BR>boundaries and limits, writing should consider the effects of poverty as well
<BR>as the effects of the mega-wealthy organisations and individuals. Writing
<BR>should investigate education and what is taught as well as what is learnt.
<BR>
<BR>Violence as an abuse of power/knowledge relationships should not be given a
<BR>silent decree. But the unthinkable will emerge from this. Writing that
<BR>recognises writng propelled by a onslaught of thoughts that revitalise the
<BR>collapsed inertia of Sovereign subjectivity surely has a responsibility. In
<BR>whatever shape or form the ruthless tyrannies of despots must be addressed
<BR>(so that no one suffers). Reincarnations, new words that address the ideal
<BR>future, set up .... (probably) more disintegration and fragmentation. Saints
<BR>are created from fictional accounts of Writers who expeienced some kind of
<BR>martydom for their faith. Faith leads to attempts to convert others. Instead
<BR>I suggest (all too hastily I regret) let writing target errors, write about
<BR>writing that unloosens the fabricated knowledge inherited from the past.
<BR>Writers that can do this will be concerned to re-examine power in all its
<BR>manifestations: physical and mental. These writers will be reconstructing the
<BR>abstract thoughts that seem to appear in the mind as knowledge to people with
<BR>prejudice.
<BR>cheers EP (apologies this is not well thought out. I too have not been a
<BR>subscriber to this list for long, but as a literary question has appeared at
<BR>last ....</FONT></HTML>

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