Subject
Re: Nabokov and Pedophilia (fwd)
Date
Body
Ori Redler - ori@aristo.co.il, aristo@actcom.co.il
I feel somewhat guilty for causing so many articulate in such length
their various misunderstandings and misinterpretations of my rather
innocent use of the word "identify."
An clearifying example may be appropriate here: let's assume that an
actor is assigned the role or Hitler in a play. Does he identify with
Hitler and his ideas? No, he doesn't. But, still, while playing -- if he
is a good actor -- he will respond to the simple motto "don't act, be"
and while on stage he will be his interpretation of Hitler, feel like
Hitler, react like Hitler -- in short, he will 'identify' with Hitler.
The "identifying" I was refering to was that part of the writing process
during which the author IS his fictional character. This does not imply,
of course, that an author cannot or does not distance himself of his
characters. We wouldn't have (intended) irony if he didn't. Still, any
decent writing must be performed 'through' and not 'at'.
That cleared of our path, reading some of the answers to my comment, it
seems that I have excidently touched a sensitive nerve here. My comment
have not dealt with VN's intimate sexual preferences. I have little (if
any) interest in his intimate escapades. Some of the answers to my
comment were, regretfully, fueled to some extend by a vindicating rage.
Those efforts to 'acquitte' him of the pedophilia 'charge' are beside
any relevant point as they are futile.
Also, my understanding is that in a way Mr. Vorobey used my comment as
an excuse to launch an assault on "the-author-is-the-hero" concept. As
awe-stricken as I am by the proficiency of Mr. Vorobey turning my
comment to the benefit of this 'political' agenda, I still feel that the
whole manner in which this VN-Pedophilia matter is discussed lacks
courage and ultimately caters to 'the enemy'.
Just as 'food for thought': lately, a new Hebrew translation of "Alice
in Wonderland" was published. To celebrate this occassion (and to
promote the new addition sales, to be sure) several literary
'occassions' took place. In each, the problematic issue of Lewis'
pedophilia was openly discussed, duly noted and done with.
Two lessons from this:
A. Since VN was not a pedophile, even dealing with that claim is a sheer
waste of time.
B. Even if VN were a pedophile, what does that has to do with his
literature? If we were to discuss Tolstoi in light of his being a rather
ugly human being, we would stand to lose "War and Peace." If we were to
discuss Genesis in light of "God" being a rather nasty creature we would
stand to lose some of the most beautiful passages ever written.
--
=====================
Come see my home page at:
http://http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9830
=====================
I feel somewhat guilty for causing so many articulate in such length
their various misunderstandings and misinterpretations of my rather
innocent use of the word "identify."
An clearifying example may be appropriate here: let's assume that an
actor is assigned the role or Hitler in a play. Does he identify with
Hitler and his ideas? No, he doesn't. But, still, while playing -- if he
is a good actor -- he will respond to the simple motto "don't act, be"
and while on stage he will be his interpretation of Hitler, feel like
Hitler, react like Hitler -- in short, he will 'identify' with Hitler.
The "identifying" I was refering to was that part of the writing process
during which the author IS his fictional character. This does not imply,
of course, that an author cannot or does not distance himself of his
characters. We wouldn't have (intended) irony if he didn't. Still, any
decent writing must be performed 'through' and not 'at'.
That cleared of our path, reading some of the answers to my comment, it
seems that I have excidently touched a sensitive nerve here. My comment
have not dealt with VN's intimate sexual preferences. I have little (if
any) interest in his intimate escapades. Some of the answers to my
comment were, regretfully, fueled to some extend by a vindicating rage.
Those efforts to 'acquitte' him of the pedophilia 'charge' are beside
any relevant point as they are futile.
Also, my understanding is that in a way Mr. Vorobey used my comment as
an excuse to launch an assault on "the-author-is-the-hero" concept. As
awe-stricken as I am by the proficiency of Mr. Vorobey turning my
comment to the benefit of this 'political' agenda, I still feel that the
whole manner in which this VN-Pedophilia matter is discussed lacks
courage and ultimately caters to 'the enemy'.
Just as 'food for thought': lately, a new Hebrew translation of "Alice
in Wonderland" was published. To celebrate this occassion (and to
promote the new addition sales, to be sure) several literary
'occassions' took place. In each, the problematic issue of Lewis'
pedophilia was openly discussed, duly noted and done with.
Two lessons from this:
A. Since VN was not a pedophile, even dealing with that claim is a sheer
waste of time.
B. Even if VN were a pedophile, what does that has to do with his
literature? If we were to discuss Tolstoi in light of his being a rather
ugly human being, we would stand to lose "War and Peace." If we were to
discuss Genesis in light of "God" being a rather nasty creature we would
stand to lose some of the most beautiful passages ever written.
--
=====================
Come see my home page at:
http://http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/9830
=====================