Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Love Stories: Narrative Discourses of Desire 1800 – the Present Love Stories: Narrative Discourses of Desire 1800 – the Present Introduction

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Agenda Great love stories Great love stories Are all stories love stories? Are all stories love stories? Love and story: Jay Clayton, Narrative and Theories of Desire Love and story: Jay Clayton, Narrative and Theories of Desire Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet Desiring vampires Desiring vampires

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Great Love Stories Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Cathy and Heathcliff Cathy and Heathcliff Rhett Butler and Scarlet OHara Rhett Butler and Scarlet OHara Tristan and Isolde Tristan and Isolde Mina and Dracula Mina and Dracula Mr and Mrs Wright Mr and Mrs Wright Gabriel and Gretta Gabriel and Gretta Clay and Lula Clay and Lula Charles Raye and Edith Harnham Charles Raye and Edith Harnham

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Other Kinds of Desire Survival: Jack London, The Open Boat Survival: Jack London, The Open Boat Ambition: James Joyce, The Dead Ambition: James Joyce, The Dead Do we have texts without desire? Do we have texts without desire? –The Mark on the Wall?

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Love and Story: Jay Clayton, Narrative and Theories of Desire Stories are always about desire. Desire takes us beyond formalism: reference Stories are always about desire. Desire takes us beyond formalism: reference Peter Brooks: desire propels narrative Peter Brooks: desire propels narrative Leo Bersani: narrative contains desire Leo Bersani: narrative contains desire

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Peter Brooks: desire propels narrative Narrative = Freuds dynamic model of the psyche, which is based on the analogy of the steam engine: Narrative = Freuds dynamic model of the psyche, which is based on the analogy of the steam engine: – [1] The id, Freud described as our biological needs and drives, as: hunger, thirst, and sex, etc. The id provides energy for the system just as fire provides energy in thermodynamics. –[2] The superego, Freud explained as society's rules, our voice of conscience. In thermodynamic terms, the superego would be a lid on the apparatus that contained water, which was to be converted into steam. –[3] The ego is the conscious mind that contains one's thoughts, judgments and memories. In Freud's thermodynamic metaphor, the ego was the wheels and the escape valves where the steam is released. (

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Peter Brooks: desire propels narrative Desire is a desire for meaning or sense Desire is a desire for meaning or sense For humans meaning is storied For humans meaning is storied Narrative meaning is situated at the end Narrative meaning is situated at the end Desire is a desire for the end of desire Desire is a desire for the end of desire Desire is a desire for death Desire is a desire for death

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Leo Bersani: narrative contains desire Desire is a desire for something else; desire is mobile, fluid, disruptive, and restless. Desire is a desire for something else; desire is mobile, fluid, disruptive, and restless. (Mimetic) narrative is a form of violence, a way of subduing desire. (Mimetic) narrative is a form of violence, a way of subduing desire.

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet What does this story tell us about desire and narrative? What does this story tell us about desire and narrative? –Story and plot (order, duration, frequency, ellipsis) –Character and characterization –The title

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture The story / plot model Story (future) Plot (end) Story (past) Plot (beginning) Plot (middle)

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet Section One: The love story of Robert Miles and Florence OHara Section One: The love story of Robert Miles and Florence OHara Section Two: (I have come to like …) Nine years later. Rob and Florence meet again! Section Two: (I have come to like …) Nine years later. Rob and Florence meet again!

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet The plot / discourse: The plot / discourse: –Happy love has no history: Storied desire concern desires obstacles and barriers, what seperates rather than unites the lovers

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet Character and characterization Character and characterization –Desire is triangular: lover – beloved – rival –Intertextuality: Florence OHara (!)

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet The title: Intertextuality The title: Intertextuality

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Richard Quine, Strangers When We Meet (1960)

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Richard Quine, Strangers When We Meet (1960, 2005)

Jens Kirk, Dept. of Languages and Culture Hanif Kureishi, "Strangers When We Meet The title: intertextuality The title: intertextuality Desire is a quotation, simulation, a copy Desire is a quotation, simulation, a copy We fall in love in and through stories We fall in love in and through stories The experience of love is conditioned by stories, we experience stories The experience of love is conditioned by stories, we experience stories We fall in love with stories We fall in love with stories