Abstract
This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional n... more Abstract This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional novel that embodies the belief that art and science can play a vital role in triggering critical consciousness that keeps alive the spirit of dissent. A close reading of the novel also reveals that it mirrors several key concepts and ideas promoted by Gramsci pertaining to power relations between the ruling class and those under them and the educational roles of art and science. Of great significance is that this novel is exemplary of an innovative mode of political fiction in its employment of key posthumanist ideas that challenge human aspiration for absolute power and control. In discussing Basement Moon, I draw on Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as well as relevant literature in dystopia, posthumanism and metafiction. The full article is available from https://brill.com/view/journals/mnya/27/1/article-p1_002.xml For details about my other academic works, please visit>> https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vo43RBf7iwO0Wiqj4kU9XY02iOev0f_iGjkWNEb_MQhu1vLP-KAvPANI_aem_AXbFYNJIrl7tGGOa1xXLBpvo4LsddBPSe5u-9QnTYvfRPaxoyI96rzbz4SokkJgZoUmiN6juIbOn9J-OvJQICWOF
This paper examines McCarthy's The Road and Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and argues that the two no... more This paper examines McCarthy's The Road and Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and argues that the two novels exhibit crucial characteristics of critical dystopia and utopian desire as conceptualized by Lyman Tower Sargent and Ildney Cavalcanti. The key characteristics of critical dystopia as discerned in the two works include the attempt to critique conditions of our contemporary world as well as to offer better alternatives, the utilization of genre mixing and the embodiment of open-endedness or the resistance to closure that aims at critically engaging the reader. The investigation reveals that in both novels utopia manifests itself as a desire that triggers a process towards better ways of being and the exploration of alternatives, rather than the blueprint for an ideal society. Significantly, utopianism in both novels is intrinsically a mode of writing that seeks to transform our way of thinking, as the reader is encouraged to become a desiring or a dissatisfied subject who has to formulate her/his utopia. The act of reading is thus crucial to the utopianism of both novels and a great deal of faith is placed on storytelling as a means of triggering the utopian desire and process.
The article can also be accessed via the following link:
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/665... more The article can also be accessed via the following link:
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/65939 ****The English translation of the novel Juti ( จุติ) is available for academic uses. Those interested in the translation may contact the translator at isaraporn.p@cmu.ac.th OR eng102course@gmail.com (This translation was peer-reviewed by Associate Professor Dr. Soranat Tailanka, Associate Professor Dr. Chaiyan Rachakul and Assistant Professor Wichian Sunitham, and I’m deeply grateful for their comments and suggestions.)
Abstract
This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional n... more Abstract This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional novel that embodies the belief that art and science can play a vital role in triggering critical consciousness that keeps alive the spirit of dissent. A close reading of the novel also reveals that it mirrors several key concepts and ideas promoted by Gramsci pertaining to power relations between the ruling class and those under them and the educational roles of art and science. Of great significance is that this novel is exemplary of an innovative mode of political fiction in its employment of key posthumanist ideas that challenge human aspiration for absolute power and control. In discussing Basement Moon, I draw on Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as well as relevant literature in dystopia, posthumanism and metafiction. The full article is available from https://brill.com/view/journals/mnya/27/1/article-p1_002.xml For details about my other academic works, please visit>> https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vo43RBf7iwO0Wiqj4kU9XY02iOev0f_iGjkWNEb_MQhu1vLP-KAvPANI_aem_AXbFYNJIrl7tGGOa1xXLBpvo4LsddBPSe5u-9QnTYvfRPaxoyI96rzbz4SokkJgZoUmiN6juIbOn9J-OvJQICWOF
This paper examines McCarthy's The Road and Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and argues that the two no... more This paper examines McCarthy's The Road and Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and argues that the two novels exhibit crucial characteristics of critical dystopia and utopian desire as conceptualized by Lyman Tower Sargent and Ildney Cavalcanti. The key characteristics of critical dystopia as discerned in the two works include the attempt to critique conditions of our contemporary world as well as to offer better alternatives, the utilization of genre mixing and the embodiment of open-endedness or the resistance to closure that aims at critically engaging the reader. The investigation reveals that in both novels utopia manifests itself as a desire that triggers a process towards better ways of being and the exploration of alternatives, rather than the blueprint for an ideal society. Significantly, utopianism in both novels is intrinsically a mode of writing that seeks to transform our way of thinking, as the reader is encouraged to become a desiring or a dissatisfied subject who has to formulate her/his utopia. The act of reading is thus crucial to the utopianism of both novels and a great deal of faith is placed on storytelling as a means of triggering the utopian desire and process.
The article can also be accessed via the following link:
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/665... more The article can also be accessed via the following link:
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/65939 ****The English translation of the novel Juti ( จุติ) is available for academic uses. Those interested in the translation may contact the translator at isaraporn.p@cmu.ac.th OR eng102course@gmail.com (This translation was peer-reviewed by Associate Professor Dr. Soranat Tailanka, Associate Professor Dr. Chaiyan Rachakul and Assistant Professor Wichian Sunitham, and I’m deeply grateful for their comments and suggestions.)
Uploads
Papers by isaraporn pissa-ard
This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional novel that embodies the belief that art and science can play a vital role in triggering critical consciousness that keeps alive the spirit of dissent. A close reading of the novel also reveals that it mirrors several key concepts and ideas promoted by Gramsci pertaining to power relations between the ruling class and those under them and the educational roles of art and science. Of great significance is that this novel is exemplary of an innovative mode of political fiction in its employment of key posthumanist ideas that challenge human aspiration for absolute power and control. In discussing Basement Moon, I draw on Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as well as relevant literature in dystopia, posthumanism and metafiction.
The full article is available from https://brill.com/view/journals/mnya/27/1/article-p1_002.xml
For details about my other academic works, please visit>>
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vo43RBf7iwO0Wiqj4kU9XY02iOev0f_iGjkWNEb_MQhu1vLP-KAvPANI_aem_AXbFYNJIrl7tGGOa1xXLBpvo4LsddBPSe5u-9QnTYvfRPaxoyI96rzbz4SokkJgZoUmiN6juIbOn9J-OvJQICWOF
For more details about my academic works, please visit
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2FlSHH8-LXv3datFrkdELkV2UQP7goeO8PdpyrRDduiTCx-pD14dAVQvk_aem_AfuEF1cJyo06ES_K_GEx-IALdGLZXPfpebkFwlfPPl0hSrNEL7XgwKoKyya-MgxsPQGYc4ztpxQix0-7WFexLl4b
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/65939
****The English translation of the novel Juti ( จุติ) is available for academic uses. Those interested in the translation may contact the translator at isaraporn.p@cmu.ac.th OR eng102course@gmail.com (This translation was peer-reviewed by Associate Professor Dr. Soranat Tailanka, Associate Professor Dr. Chaiyan Rachakul and Assistant Professor Wichian Sunitham, and I’m deeply grateful for their comments and suggestions.)
This paper examines Thai author Prabda Yoon’s Basement Moon, a 2018 science-fictional novel that embodies the belief that art and science can play a vital role in triggering critical consciousness that keeps alive the spirit of dissent. A close reading of the novel also reveals that it mirrors several key concepts and ideas promoted by Gramsci pertaining to power relations between the ruling class and those under them and the educational roles of art and science. Of great significance is that this novel is exemplary of an innovative mode of political fiction in its employment of key posthumanist ideas that challenge human aspiration for absolute power and control. In discussing Basement Moon, I draw on Antonio Gramsci’s theory of hegemony as well as relevant literature in dystopia, posthumanism and metafiction.
The full article is available from https://brill.com/view/journals/mnya/27/1/article-p1_002.xml
For details about my other academic works, please visit>>
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2vo43RBf7iwO0Wiqj4kU9XY02iOev0f_iGjkWNEb_MQhu1vLP-KAvPANI_aem_AXbFYNJIrl7tGGOa1xXLBpvo4LsddBPSe5u-9QnTYvfRPaxoyI96rzbz4SokkJgZoUmiN6juIbOn9J-OvJQICWOF
For more details about my academic works, please visit
https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0563-6927?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2FlSHH8-LXv3datFrkdELkV2UQP7goeO8PdpyrRDduiTCx-pD14dAVQvk_aem_AfuEF1cJyo06ES_K_GEx-IALdGLZXPfpebkFwlfPPl0hSrNEL7XgwKoKyya-MgxsPQGYc4ztpxQix0-7WFexLl4b
http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/65939
****The English translation of the novel Juti ( จุติ) is available for academic uses. Those interested in the translation may contact the translator at isaraporn.p@cmu.ac.th OR eng102course@gmail.com (This translation was peer-reviewed by Associate Professor Dr. Soranat Tailanka, Associate Professor Dr. Chaiyan Rachakul and Assistant Professor Wichian Sunitham, and I’m deeply grateful for their comments and suggestions.)