Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction
Abstract: This article proposes a topographical overview of J. M. Coetzee’s fiction, taking as a departure point the narrative and ideological potential of physical space in his novels (Spivak 1991; Marais 1996; Ashcroft 1998). The topographies of Coetzee’s novels follow a recurrent spatial pattern...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad de Almeria
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Odisea |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ojs.ual.es/ojs/index.php/ODISEA/article/view/202 |
| _version_ | 1818306349217349632 |
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| author | Paula Martín Salván |
| author_facet | Paula Martín Salván |
| author_sort | Paula Martín Salván |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract:
This article proposes a topographical overview of J. M. Coetzee’s fiction, taking as a departure point the narrative and ideological potential of physical space in his novels (Spivak 1991; Marais 1996; Ashcroft 1998). The topographies of Coetzee’s novels follow a recurrent spatial pattern: They are all heterotopias, defined by opposition to somewhere else and codified in the political language of limits, frontiers and boundaries. I would like to examine the persistence of an imagery of blankness, emptiness, barrenness and ghostliness, suggesting that the epistemological instability of such rhetorical articulations may work as an element of resistance to binary ideological constructions.
Key words: Landscape, topography, heterotopia, blankness.
Resumen:
Este artículo propone un recorrido topográfico por la narrativa de J. M. Coetzee, tomando como punto de partida el potencial narrativo e ideológico del espacio físico en sus novelas (Spivak 1991; Marais 1996; Ashcroft 1998). Las topografías de las novelas de Coetzee siguen un patrón especial recurrente: Todas ellas son heterotopías, definidas por oposición a otro lugar y codificadas en el lenguaje político de los límites y las fronteras. Me gustaría examinar la persistencia de imágenes del vacío, para sugerir que la inestabilidad epistemológica de tales articulaciones retóricas puede funcionar como elemento de resistencia frente a construcciones ideológicas binarias.
Palabras clave: Paisaje, topografía, heterotopía, vacío |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:41:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49b926931e8e4cb08c0774b359d528e6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1578-3820 2174-1611 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T06:41:04Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Almeria |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Odisea |
| spelling | doaj.art-49b926931e8e4cb08c0774b359d528e62022-12-21T23:56:25ZengUniversidad de AlmeriaOdisea1578-38202174-16112017-03-010914515310.25115/odisea.v0i9.202185Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s FictionPaula Martín Salván0Universidad de CórdobaAbstract: This article proposes a topographical overview of J. M. Coetzee’s fiction, taking as a departure point the narrative and ideological potential of physical space in his novels (Spivak 1991; Marais 1996; Ashcroft 1998). The topographies of Coetzee’s novels follow a recurrent spatial pattern: They are all heterotopias, defined by opposition to somewhere else and codified in the political language of limits, frontiers and boundaries. I would like to examine the persistence of an imagery of blankness, emptiness, barrenness and ghostliness, suggesting that the epistemological instability of such rhetorical articulations may work as an element of resistance to binary ideological constructions. Key words: Landscape, topography, heterotopia, blankness. Resumen: Este artículo propone un recorrido topográfico por la narrativa de J. M. Coetzee, tomando como punto de partida el potencial narrativo e ideológico del espacio físico en sus novelas (Spivak 1991; Marais 1996; Ashcroft 1998). Las topografías de las novelas de Coetzee siguen un patrón especial recurrente: Todas ellas son heterotopías, definidas por oposición a otro lugar y codificadas en el lenguaje político de los límites y las fronteras. Me gustaría examinar la persistencia de imágenes del vacío, para sugerir que la inestabilidad epistemológica de tales articulaciones retóricas puede funcionar como elemento de resistencia frente a construcciones ideológicas binarias. Palabras clave: Paisaje, topografía, heterotopía, vacíohttp://ojs.ual.es/ojs/index.php/ODISEA/article/view/202landscapetopographyheterotopiablanknesstopografíapaisajevacío, heterotropía |
| spellingShingle | Paula Martín Salván Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction Odisea landscape topography heterotopia blankness topografía paisaje vacío, heterotropía |
| title | Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction |
| title_full | Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction |
| title_fullStr | Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction |
| title_short | Topographies of Blankness in J.M. Coetzee’s Fiction |
| title_sort | topographies of blankness in j m coetzee s fiction |
| topic | landscape topography heterotopia blankness topografía paisaje vacío, heterotropía |
| url | http://ojs.ual.es/ojs/index.php/ODISEA/article/view/202 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulamartinsalvan topographiesofblanknessinjmcoetzeesfiction |