Babel in Russian and Other Literatures and Topographies (eBook)

The Tower, the State, and the Chaos of Language

Martin Meisel (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2019
168 Seiten
Lexington Books (Verlag)
978-1-4985-8838-6 (ISBN)

Infos

This study analyzes the biblical Tower of Babel story, a cautionary tale that accounts for the diversity of languages and peoples. The author pursues its linking of language, architecture, and society as well as its relevance in art and literature over centuries. To come to terms with a perceived disorder in the realm of language, alternative explanations and projects for remediation abound. The disorder and diversity themselves find expression in art, literature, and philosophical reflection and caused the emergence of a historical linguistics. The ambition of the builderswith its social and organizational premisereemerges in both political and material form as cities, states, and monumental constructions. Utopian aspirations and linguistic claims permeate both revolutionary notions of universality and the romantic essentialism of the nation state. These in turn provoke dystopian critique in literature and film. As Martin Meisel reveals in this study, the wrestle with language in its recalcitrant instability and imperfect social function enters into dialogue with the celebration of its diversity, elasticity, and creativity.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.8.2019
• Reihe/Serie: Crosscurrents: Russia's Literature in Context
• Zusatzinfo: 48 Illustrations including: - 24 Halftones, Black & White including Black & White Photographs; - 24 Halftones, Color including Color Photographs.
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Essays / Feuilleton
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Geschichte ► Regional- / Ländergeschichte
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Anglistik / Amerikanistik
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Sprach- / Literaturwissenschaft ► Literaturwissenschaft
• Schlagworte: architectural invention • Biblical Interpretation • chaos theory • film architecture • French Revolution • Futurism • Historical Linguistics • language philosophy • Russian Revolution • Tower of Babel • Utopia and dystopia
• ISBN-10: 1-4985-8838-7 / 1498588387
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4985-8838-6 / 9781498588386