On Lightness in World Literature

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, Theory, Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science
Cover of the book On Lightness in World Literature by B. Scott, Palgrave Macmillan US
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: B. Scott ISBN: 9781137346841
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan US Publication: November 7, 2013
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan Language: English
Author: B. Scott
ISBN: 9781137346841
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication: November 7, 2013
Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan
Language: English

Despite the apparent ubiquity of light literature, and despite the greater cultural prestige it has been afforded in recent decades, very little has been written on the adjective that actually defines this category. What, precisely, does it signify, and what are some of the key strategies by which the effect of lightness is achieved within literary discourse? In this original and engaging study, Bede Scott explores the aesthetic quality of lightness as demonstrated by a diverse range of narratives - spanning four different centuries and five different countries. In each case he focuses on a specific 'type' of lightness, whether it be the refined triviality of Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book, the ludic tendencies of Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis' Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, or the 'exhilarating and primitive vitality' of Voltaire's Candide. By bringing together such disparate sources, Scott makes a strong case for the universality of this particular aesthetic value, while also subjecting to close critical scrutiny its underlying structural features.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Despite the apparent ubiquity of light literature, and despite the greater cultural prestige it has been afforded in recent decades, very little has been written on the adjective that actually defines this category. What, precisely, does it signify, and what are some of the key strategies by which the effect of lightness is achieved within literary discourse? In this original and engaging study, Bede Scott explores the aesthetic quality of lightness as demonstrated by a diverse range of narratives - spanning four different centuries and five different countries. In each case he focuses on a specific 'type' of lightness, whether it be the refined triviality of Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book, the ludic tendencies of Joaquim Maria Machado de Assis' Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas, or the 'exhilarating and primitive vitality' of Voltaire's Candide. By bringing together such disparate sources, Scott makes a strong case for the universality of this particular aesthetic value, while also subjecting to close critical scrutiny its underlying structural features.

More books from Palgrave Macmillan US

Cover of the book Globalization and Development by B. Scott
Cover of the book Love in Print in the Sixteenth Century by B. Scott
Cover of the book Black Collegians’ Experiences in US Northern Private Colleges by B. Scott
Cover of the book Institutional Advancement by B. Scott
Cover of the book Screening Love and Sex in the Ancient World by B. Scott
Cover of the book The Earthy Nature of the Bible by B. Scott
Cover of the book Alternative Masculinities for a Changing World by B. Scott
Cover of the book The Political Legacies of Barry Goldwater and George McGovern by B. Scott
Cover of the book Development of Consumer Finance in East Asia by B. Scott
Cover of the book The Films of Wes Anderson by B. Scott
Cover of the book Combatting Disruptive Change by B. Scott
Cover of the book Chinese American Literature without Borders by B. Scott
Cover of the book Islamic Reform and Colonial Discourse on Modernity in India by B. Scott
Cover of the book Data Mining for Managers by B. Scott
Cover of the book Ethnic Interest Groups in US Foreign Policy-Making by B. Scott
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy