I'm doing an independent study with the director of my department, Steve Tomasula, on an author whose writing I find fascinating, Milorad Pavic. While I'm going to be keeping my own notes on my readings, I intend to share bits of what I'm doing here as well.
1/12/10 - First, let me set out a basic plan for what I intend to do, research- and reading-wise, and perhaps develop a sort of personal syllabus for this project. I'm going to have two lists: one of Pavic texts and one of related works. The Pavic texts will be limited to works written by Pavic (and translated into English), and at this point will only include his non-poetic, creative work. The second list will include both relevant critical works, whether they be on Pavic's writings in specific or themes relevant to his work in general, as well as creative works by other authors that have some connection with what Pavic seems to be doing.
Pavic Writings- Dictionary of the Khazars male edition (translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric), Vintage, New York, NY
- Dictionary of the Khazars female edition (translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric), Vintage, New York, NY
- Landscape Painted with Tea (translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric), Vintage International, New York, NY, 1990
- The Inner Side of the Wind, or The Novel of Hero and Leander (translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric), Knopf, New York, NY, 1993
- Last Love in Constantinople (translated by Christina Pribichevich-Zoric), Dufour Editions, Chester Springs, PA, 1998
- The Tale That Killed Emily Knorr (translated by Dragana Rajkov), Dereta, Belgrade, 2005
- Second Body
Just found out Pavic died in mid-December of this year. Quite a loss. Sad truth is that this will probably be a boost to scholarship on him. Guess I'll see if anything comes out on him over the next year.
,p.Here are a few ideas on how to go through his various works. Start with Khazars (either male or female), with the inappropriate cover-to-cover reading. Approach as though being exposed to this type of format for the first time. For Landscape Painted with Tea, continue, using the 'Across' reading when reaching the crossword portion of the novel. For Inner Side of the Wind, randomly determine which half (Hero or Leander) to read first, follow with remaining section. For Last Love, read once with cover-to-cover reading, followed by tarot-style reading. Note: Acquire tarot deck. Return to Khazars (unread edition) and Landscape, using varied reading and Down reading, respectively. Next, move to online novel, Second Body. Conclude with Emily Knorr. Incorporate secondary readings and resources as necessary/appropriate.Begin tomorrow with Khazars, female edition. Seems oddly appropriate to read the 'female' version of a novel in an 'inappropriate' way, as though it were possible to understand a woman by examining her 'cover-to-cover'. I wonder what Pavic really meant by labeling one version feminine and another masculine.
0 comments:
Post a Comment