Novel about Artist: Postmodern Variations (Instantiated by Novels “The Tin Drum” by Günter Grass, “Brother of Sleep” by Robert Schneider, “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” by Patrick Süskind)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/pytlit2013.88.144Keywords:
novel about artist, postmodernism, genius, G. Grass, R. Schneider, P. SüskindAbstract
An attempt to show the modification of classic novel about an artist (Künstlerroman) through a prism of postmodernism instantiated by German novels of the second half of the twentieth century “The Tin Drum”, “Brother of Sleep”, “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer” was accomplished. Crisis of artistic apperception in the twentieth century is demonstrated. Different conceptions of the creative process of main characters are compared. The main attention was focused on the clash between man and artist, life and art, daily routine and spirituality.
In the postmodern age the cynical worldview model is predominating. At the same time tales, where magic and reality, sentimentality and brutality are combined, enjoy widespread popularity. An art of genius has positive connotations in general, but some of chosen novels are revealing the reverse side of the coin, when the art is capable to create an evil in its superior manifestations. For a wonder a presence of negative, monstrosity and disgust attract attention of the crowd rather than beauty.
Therefore tin the article new idea that talent is on the verge of monstrosity is asserted. These two concepts exist together rely on each other. Every hero is like two-faced Janus to some extent. On the one hand, being endowed with Divine Grace he has a talent, but on the other hand, having something demoniacal is possessed by physical defect.
On the one hand, they limelight and fire our imagination by their unusualness, on the other hand, they push away by their monstrosity and disgust. Main characters are always teetering on the edge. However the notion of edge is taking the wider meaning in the contemporary society.
Consequently, having used all features of classic novel about an artist and portrayed them through a prism of modern perception of the world, writers created a new compilation – postmodern novel about an artist.
References
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