Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
Published byMarquis Pepper Modified over 9 years ago
1
Narratives on the Body Session Two: Monsters (and Monsters Inc.)
2
Agenda Summary and Development of Session One. Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing Stevenson, ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”
3
Summary and Development of Session One The cardboard box and ”The Cardboard Box” The mirror text
4
Summary and Development of Session One Looking at the Body: Physiognomy 19th century uses of physiognomy: Moral and ethical uses Political uses: class, sex, ethnicity, race Cultural uses: a new mapping device, a new semiotics for making sense of urban reality (Michael Shortland, ”The Power of a Thousand Eyes:…”
5
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing Representations of the human body are mediated, i.e. they are specific with respect to medium and genre Representations of the human body are culturally and historically specific
6
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing Media: speech, writing/print, sculpture, painting, dance, performance, installation, photography, comix, film, music The law of writing The temporality and linearity of the signifier
7
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing A narrative has a beginning, middle, and an end (story – discourse distinction) Temporality – a series of temporally ordered events: actions, unfolding in time, rather than objects, unfolding in space. Causality – logical or causal connections between events Teleological progression – end-oriented: the end = the revelation of meaning. striptease.
8
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing A narrative involves someone telling someone else that something happened Narrative power and authority Teller – listener, narrator – narratee, author – reader.
9
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing Four functions (according to J. Hillis Miller): 1.Investigation, revelation 2.Creation, invention 3.Reinforcement, policing 4.Subversion, demystification
10
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing – Peter Brooks The semioticization of the body and the somatisation of story: Odysseus, Lucy, Potter
11
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing – Peter Brooks Why is narrative interested in the human body? The body = the ultimate site of Otherness (nature); outside language and culture; object of curiosity; must be made meaningful
12
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing – Peter Brooks How is narrative interested in the human body? Indirection, reticence, fetishism An interest in the way rather than the endpoint, unveiling rather than unveiled, process rather than product The double logic of narrative: the end is both pursued and put off
13
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing – Peter Brooks Why is writing interested in the body? Inscribing the body with meaning Saving the body from otherness and showing that writing has its referent in the body – a motivated sign system
14
Theory: Bodies and Narrative Writing – Peter Brooks How is writing interested in the body? Inscribing and reading signs on the body.
15
Stevenson, ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Consider ”Story of the Door” Consider how the narrative can be said to exemplify what Peter Brooks calls the semioticization of the body and the somatisation of story Whose body is the object of semioticisation? Whose body somatises the story? Consider how the narrative can be said to exemplify indirection, reticence, and fetishism
16
Stevenson, ”Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” Story of the Door Search for Mr. Hyde Dr. Jekyll Was Quite at Ease The Carew Murder Case Incident of the Letter Remarkable incident of Dr. Lanyon Incident at the Window The Last Night Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com. Inc.
All rights reserved.