JULIAN BARNES’ ENGLISH ISLANDS AS HETEROTOPI

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JULIAN BARNES’ ENGLISH ISLANDS AS HETEROTOPI

Journal Title: Проблеми сучасного літературознавства - Year 2019, Vol 0, Issue 28

Abstract

In the article J. Barnes’ novel «England, England» is considered through the prism of the Foucaultian concept of «heterotropia»; complicity and functioning ambiguity of this concept in the literary studies area is traced and taken under attention, how basic traits of Foucaultian concept work and uncover in the artistic world of Barnes’ novel, where presented images of two islands, that function due to heterotopia spaces rules. During last decades post-nonclassical epoch has added to its significant arsenal of different «turns» also the turns «of space», which initiator was M. Foucault. Implanted into lectures, destined to architects, term «heterotopia», and emphasized on the changes, that occurred with the space nature, philosopher has not given any explanations about occurred changes, what gives possibility to wide treatment and usage in different spheres of humanitarian sciences. Literati are trying to use this term in their exploring service, pointing out that it requires to an appropriate coordination with existing art creation exploring technics in the literary studies. At the same time we cannot deny thought about literary text as always «another place», comparing to all other texts, performs as heterotopia with increased significance of internal relative-reflections and relative-interweaving of new connections and meanings, that is why precisely balanced literary studies of heterotopia is the evidence of not stereotyped and intelligibility of scientific thinking and reaction on certain artistic texts, in which space heterotopia nature is actualized (but not only geographical), which demands relevant analytic strategies. The attempt to read J. Barnes’ novel «England, England» in terms of heterotopia idea is dictated by text self-intention, in which two heterotopias — Island, created by powers of Jack Pitmen’s team as a copy of Great Britain, and island, on which Good Old England is situated, coexist; and inside these heterotopian spaces also exist nodes of other heterotopian relations: heterotopia of memory, history, main heroes’ individual consciousness and so on. Overall island phenomenon is extremely valued by European culture and English literature especially, in respect which researchers have already started talking about existence inside it specific «island text». Islands, created by Barnes’ demanding imagination and fabulations illustrate the best these thesis of French philosopher, that compose basic principles Foucaultian heterotopia spaces. First of all, these islands exist in co-reflections and co-images, as well as people exist there as in the beyond mirror, virtual reality (Foucault’s principle of the «mirror»). This way of existence enables execution of utopias and island Wight becomes «realized utopia», this way it demonstrates the second important Foucaultian principle. Thirdly, heterotopias accompany with heterochronies, while on island Wight, as well in Old England, socio-cultural and aesthetic objects overflow and combine and they belong to absolutely different times and places. Also some other Foucaultian principles of heterotopia are exposed in Barnes’ novel. Barnes’ isles are opened to all visitors and at the same time closed, they are isolated either compelled from the whole world, like Old England, or their isolation is dictated by administration strategies, as island Wight, on which you can get only with the permission from the government. Actually, touristic Wight atmosphere, where travelers and holiday-makers are only having fun, also forms deviant behavior, not corresponding to the lifestyle of the world, especially of England, where work takes much more time than leisure. We should also take into account heterogeneous nature of person’s internal world, that makes it more obvious in his heterotopian consciousness, in his internal life space, that reads as a route of personality to its self. Marta Cochrane’s history is a bright example of heterotopias of isles, on which she was, cross over and interact with plural heterotopias of her consciousness, memory, memoirs, passions. Overall, the phenomenon of island as immanently heterotopian space, separated and opposed to the other world, where in unpredictable and ridiculous looks cross over and coexist different fragments and forms of people’s existence and space configurations, contains potentials to deep studies of heterotopias, however the question, whether each island, depicted in the English literature is a complete heterotopia, can it still be decided only during the process of further scientific investigations, that seem to be important for the contemporary literary studies.

Authors and Affiliations

Elena Annenkova

Keywords

EP ID EP632807
DOI 10.18524/2312-6809.2019.28.165836
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