vandalnovacek

I was recently in a class where the teacher was talking about how "meaning" is derived from literature through subtext. Most literature in the past generated subtext in opposition to cultural norms or censorship imposed by the author or society. A classic example might be Hemingway's story "Hills like White Elephants," which deals with abortion only subtextually because stories about abortion were simply not written at the time. So the question becomes: In a society where nothing is taboo and everything is revealed, how is subtext created? Where is the "meaning" in literature of today? In this book and perhaps in all his works, Houellebecq seems to cut right to this matter. There is nothing he wont write, no boundary he wont cross. He is willing to reveal every desire and turn his critical, cynical perception on all that is sacred. In a work like this where is the subtext? I don't have an answer but I did find meaning in this book. There is something about Houellebecq's brutal honesty(which shouldn't be dismissed as mere controversy) that appeals to me but at this moment I can't quite elucidate. His world view is certainly very dark but if you can enjoy his insights without getting sucked into the black hole, it is well worth it.

2022-10-21 05:41