Modernism and Melancholia: Writing as Countermourning (Modernist Literature and Culture, 21)

Modernism and melancholia share an intellectual fate: being at once categories, conditions, discourses, modes of expression, and social projects, they feed on their own ambiguity. But modernism and melancholia also share a history: it was in the cultural-historical period we tentatively term "modernism" that a fundamental shift in our understanding of melancholia occurred. What is, then, the relationship between modernism and melancholia? How does it relate to the history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? What is the social value of the associated cluster of symbolic rituals that we call mourning? __Modernism and Melancholia__ addresses these questions, as it focuses on the manifestations of melancholia in modernist fiction internationally. Paying close attention to writings by Andrei Bely, Franz Kafka, and Virginia Woolf, Sanja Bahun identifies in modernist fiction a deliberate use of the symptomatology of melancholia to reinvigorate the genre of the novel and address the complexities of contemporary history. Such an exercise establishes writing as a mourning ritual that self-consciously refuses to "heal" or "cure." To describe this paradoxical writing practice, Bahun proposes the term "countermourning." Reversing-or renewing-the ways in which the conceptual scope of melancholia is utilized in modernist studies, this study positions itself at the crossroads of literary studies and intellectual history, and suggests a continuity between the shifting view of melancholia in global modernism. Modernism And Melancholia Share An Intellectual Fate: Being At Once Categories, Conditions, Discourses, Modes Of Expression, And Social Projects, They Feed On Their Own Ambiguity. But Modernism And Melancholia Also Share A History: It Was In The Cultural-historical Period We Tentatively Term Modernism That A Fundamental Shift In Our Understanding Of Melancholia Occurred. What Is, Then, The Relationship Between Modernism And Melancholia? How Does It Relate To The History Of The Late Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Century? What Is The Social Value Of The Associated Cluster Of Symbolic Rituals That We Call Mourning? Modernism And Melancholia Addresses These Questions, As It Focuses On The Manifestations Of Melancholia In Modernist Fiction Internationally. Paying Close Attention To Writings By Andrei Bely, Franz Kafka, And Virginia Woolf, Sanja Bahun Identifies In Modernist Fiction A Deliberate Use Of The Symptomatology Of Melancholia To Reinvigorate The Genre Of The Novel And Address The Complexities Of Contemporary History. Such An Exercise Establishes Writing As A Mourning Ritual That Self-consciously Refuses To Heal Or Cure. To Describe This Paradoxical Writing Practice, Bahun Proposes The Term Countermourning. Reversing-or Renewing-the Ways In Which The Conceptual Scope Of Melancholia Is Utilized In Modernist Studies, This Study Positions Itself At The Crossroads Of Literary Studies And Intellectual History, And Suggests A Continuity Between The Shifting View Of Melancholia In Global Modernism. Modernism: The Rise Of Countermourning -- Andrei Bely And The Spaces Of Historical Melancholia -- Schlossgeschichten Werden Erzählt?: Franz Kafka And The Empty Depth Of Modernity -- Virginia Woolf And The Search For Historical Patterns -- Conclusion: Redescribing The World: Closing Apertures. Sanja Bahun. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Modernism and melancholia share intellectual fate: being at once categories, conditions, discourses, modes of expression, and social projects, they feed on their own ambiguity. But modernism and melancholia also share a history: it was in the cultural-historical period we tentatively term ‘modernism’ that a fundamental shift in our understanding of melancholia occurred. So, what is the relationship between modernism and melancholia, and how this twine further relates to the history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century? What is the social value of the associated cluster of symbolic rituals that we call mourning? Modernism and Melancholia: Writing as Countermourning addresses these questions by focusing on the manifestations of melancholia in modernist fiction internationally. Zooming in on writings by Andrei Bely, Franz Kafka, and Virginia Woolf, Modernism and Melancholia identifies in modernist fiction a deliberate use of the symptomatology of melancholia to reinvigorate the genre of the novel and address the complexities of contemporary history. Such exercise enthrones writing as a mourning ritual that self-consciously refuses to “heal” or “cure”. To describe this paradoxical writing practice, the book proposes the term “countermourning”. Reversing, or refreshing, the ways in which the conceptual scope of melancholia is utilized in modernist studies, the book positions itself at the crossroads of literary studies and cultural studies/intellectual history, and suggests a continuity between the shifting view of the condition-concept in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and modernist artistic strategies Content: List of Abbreviations Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Modernism: The Rise of Countermourning Chapter 2: Andrei Bely and the Spaces of Historical Melancholia Chapter 3: "Schlossgeschichten werden erzahlt?": Franz Kafka and the Empty Depth of Modernity Chapter 4: Virginia Woolf and the Search for Historical Patterns Conclusion: Redescribing the World: Closing Apertures Bibliography Index Modernism and Melancholia shows how a range of novels from 1913 to 1941 perform melancholia in their diction, images, metaphors, syntax, and experimental narrative techniques. [ Modernism and Writing as Countermourning By ( Author ) Nov-2013 Hardcover