Papers by Claire Hennequet
Talks by Claire Hennequet
Following Foucault’s distrust of identity as possibly leading to the objectivation of the subject... more Following Foucault’s distrust of identity as possibly leading to the objectivation of the subject, Said founded his works on a conception of identity as an “essentially static notion” that served imperialism by reducing colonized peoples to immutable and negative characteristics. In the wake of Culture and Imperialism, a lot has been written upon the role that was played by novels and theatre plays in the constitution and preservation of national identities. Poetry, however, has not received such extended treatment and could bring new elements to our reflection. My aim is to study what in Whitman's works allowed him to play a role in the constitution of the American identity. A foundational figure for the Americans, Whitman produced a volume of poetry, Leaves of Grass, quite far from a mainstream volume representative of the spirit of a people. Contrary to what one may expect, it is rather a ground-breaking work inaugurating a new era both for world poetry and the American society. Whitman's position as a minority writer -in the sense of Deleuze- taking up a major role deserves our attention. Through what can be described as a litany of performative discourse Whitman questioned the American identity just as much as he made it become reality.
"L’article analyse l’entreprise paradoxale que constitue le recueil de Walt Whitman, Leaves of gr... more "L’article analyse l’entreprise paradoxale que constitue le recueil de Walt Whitman, Leaves of grass. Whitman cherche à écrire un texte fondateur de l’identité américaine sans mettre l’accent sur les origines très diverses du peuple américain. Il cherche à produire une œuvre poétique qui satisfasse à la fois le désir de voir advenir un homme nouveau, et le besoin qu’a l’Amérique de se construire une identité. Son recueil est alors fondé sur l’image au présent du continent et sur l’expérience sensible du nouveau monde.
This article emphasizes the paradoxical character of Walt Whitman’s undertaking in Leaves of Grass. Whitman tried to produce a text which would found the American identity without stressing the diversity in the origins of the American people. His task was to produce a poetical work that would both celebrate a new Man and fill America’s need to build its own identity. His collection is therefore founded on a sensitive experience of the New World and offers an image of the continent in the present.
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Teaching Documents by Claire Hennequet
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Papers by Claire Hennequet
Talks by Claire Hennequet
This article emphasizes the paradoxical character of Walt Whitman’s undertaking in Leaves of Grass. Whitman tried to produce a text which would found the American identity without stressing the diversity in the origins of the American people. His task was to produce a poetical work that would both celebrate a new Man and fill America’s need to build its own identity. His collection is therefore founded on a sensitive experience of the New World and offers an image of the continent in the present.
"
Teaching Documents by Claire Hennequet
This article emphasizes the paradoxical character of Walt Whitman’s undertaking in Leaves of Grass. Whitman tried to produce a text which would found the American identity without stressing the diversity in the origins of the American people. His task was to produce a poetical work that would both celebrate a new Man and fill America’s need to build its own identity. His collection is therefore founded on a sensitive experience of the New World and offers an image of the continent in the present.
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