Theses supervised by Yrd. Doç. Dr. Nilsen Gökçen
15 theses · Dokuz Eylül University
Beyond irony: The cult of sophistication in contemporary American literature
The purpose of this study is to read creative nonfiction and fiction of Nicholson Baker, William T. Vollmann, Jonathan Franzen, David Foster Wallace within the context of topics surrounding recent literary criticism about new directions after postmodernism and offer a new outlook on contemporary literature. The basic premise of this study is that when considered in light of the newly emerging schools of the so-called ethical turn and the oft-mentioned end of postmodernism and the re-birth of realism, the selected works demonstrate another vista for contemporary literature that tends towards re-establishing literature?s ethical inquiry into the human element before all else. The analysis of the creative nonfiction and fiction of these four contemporary American writers present new theories of reading for contemporary literary scholarship. The selected works are all, in their own particular ways, symptomatic of a recent aspiration for ethical treatment of certain social and cultural issues and a commitment to the human. In charting the manifestations of these symptoms as evidences of a new movement in contemporary literature, this study bears witness to the common anxiety of these writers who move toward the truthful representation of the human, of reality. The selected works of creative nonfiction and fiction account for contemporary American literature?s various conflicts and dilemmas as well as searches for revitalization.
Kadın pop star imgeleri ve toplumda kadın algısı: Amerika, İtalya ve Türkiye örneği
Bu tezde, feminist şair ve kuramcı Adrienne Rich'in On Lies, Secrets, and Silence adlı eserinde önerilen "dişil dil" incelenmiş ve bu dilin Türk, İtalyan ve Amerikalı üç kadın pop şarkıcısının şarkı metinlerindeki izdüşümleri araştırılmıştır. Adrienne Rich'in yapıtındaki kadın dilinden istenen özellikler olan, yalandan arınmış gerçekler, sırlarla örtülmeyen düşünceler ve suskunlukları dolduran sözler, Türk pop şarkıcısı Nil Karaibrahimgil, İtalyan Carmen Consoli ve Amerikalı P!nk'in şarkılarının arasındaki mesajlarda taranmış, elde edilen ortak bulgular açıklanmıştır. Feminist kuramcı Rich'in sözü edilen eserindeki dişil dil özellikleri, farklı kültürlerden gelen, popüler kültürü temsil eden kadın pop şarkıcıların metinlerinde tespit edilmiştir. Bu tez, Adrienne Rich ile üç kadın söz yazar ve şarkıcı arasındaki bağı göstermektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Karaibrahimgil, Consoli, P!nk, Pop Müzik, Kadın Edebiyatı, Adrienne Rich.
Zora Neale Hurston's motherless heroines
Mother-daughter bonding and the importance of mothers in the development of the daughter?s personality, femininity, and sexuality have been one of the core themes and issues from ancient myths to modern psychoanalytic, feminist and literary criticism. Many pivotal psychoanalysts and feminists have been preoccupied with how the maternal figure determines, shapes and modifies the daughter?s psyche and personality. In their work not only the importance of this early attachment between mothers and daughters but also the significance of the quality of this relationship have been underscored since the daughter?s well-being, perception of self, sexuality, consciousness, and subjectivity are all consistent with her good and mutual emotional relationship with her mother. In this sense, what mother loss or emotional absence of the mother means to a daughter gains vital importance. Therefore, in many women?s writing, we often see a heroine who tries to recover the psychological wound caused by her mother?s death, abandonment, or inadequate mothering.Zora Neale Hurston, who is one of the prominent writers of Afro-American literature, also illustrates the psychological and emotional conflicts of heroines who are simultaneously struggling for their individual freedom and longing for the reunion with their mothers. Having lost her mother at the age of nine, Hurston felt the agony of her mother?s death. Although mother-daughter bonding is not a recurrent theme in her oeuvre, we can easily detect that in addition to her autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road (1942) there is an implicit manifestation of mother-daughter bonding with its all complexities and ambivalences in her novels Jonah?s Gourd Vine (1934), Their Eyes Were Watching God (1934), and Seraph on the Suwanee (1948). In the light of classic psychoanalysis, object-relations theories and feminist literary criticism, this thesis aims to explore the variations of mother-daughter bonding in these selected novels. The main emphasis goes to the elaboration of motherless heroines? psychological journey to gain an autonomous and individuated identity.Key Words: Mother-daughter bonding, psychoanalytic theory, object-relations theory, feminist literary criticism, Seraph on the Suwanee, Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Multiplicity of voices: A Bakhtinian reading of John Crowley's the translator
This dissertation aims at exploring and analyzing the self/other relationship in the contemporary American writer John Crowley?s The Translator by Bakhtinian concepts and phraseology. In other words, this dissertation is a reading of The Translator through the perspective of Bakhtinian polyphony, dialogism, heteroglossia, and a positive unfinalizability. The self/other relationship does not only evoke a bodily difference, but rather includes the differences of language, culture, and ideology. The bond between the two characters, Christa and Falin, representing America and Russia during the Cold War years, who are their opposites in terms of gender, age, education, language, culture, ideology, personal and public history and experience, constitutes a dialogical relationship based on poetry, by which they reconstruct each other forever. Both Christa and Falin bring their own experiences and voices to this partnership of poetry and translation which eventually leads to the (re)construction and (re)shaping of their own selves. According to Bakhtin, such a relationship is dialogic embodying a positive image of unfinalizability and the self/other relationship lasts as long as the voices of each self echo in the other?s imagination even in the absence of the participants. The Translator demonstrates the polyphonic, dialogic, heteroglot, and unfinalizable nature of the short-lived relationship between Christa and Falin in interlinguistic and crosscultural exchanges.
Ecofeminist themes in American women's novels
Despite the fact that the examples of nature-literature combination were seen centuries ago, the visible environmental crisis of today has been recently reflected in the works of writers who are aware of this crisis. Especially the movements that were organized against the environmental destruction and deterioration have caused the appearance of many works that contain environmental concerns. As a result of these movements, it did not take long for ecological thinking and criticism to find a place in literary world and academia.Ecofeminism, which is a reflection of nature and literature in feminism, has been an important theory along with ecocriticism. The main idea it supports is that there is a great link between domination of nature and domination of women. Ecofeminism, that criticizes patriarchy through women and nature, has been the subject of many women writers? works. In this thesis, ecofeminism will be analyzed through three women writers. Margaret Atwood?s Surfacing, Marge Piercy?s Woman on the Edge of Time and Ursula K. Le Guin?s Always Coming Home and are important examples that belong to ecofeminism in terms of their containing feminist and ecological issues. Consequently, these three examples are useful sources to understand and place the ecofeminist theory.Key Words: Ecological Thinking, Ecocriticism, Literature and Ecology, Feminism and Nature, Ecofeminism.
Wallace Stevens: Geleneksel modernist
Wallace Stevens wrote poetry and theorized almost entirely within a major modernist paradigm built around the question: how does one remake a poetry, and a culture, on the grounds of an exhausted tradition? In the name of renovation, modernist writers frequently become purveyors of the archaic, the obsolete, the ruin, the insufferably quaint. The archaic is part of the motivation for modernist writing. According to T.S. Eliot and Harold Bloom, the fresh individual talent joins the canon only through the complicated drama of violating the past, the tradition, most effectively and properly. Only the misfit is befitting. As the timeless desire to innovate, to break with tradition, modernism is one of the most traditional cultural impulses in art and social life. Such is the ironic, destructive and oddly conservative dialectic of tradition and modernism.Wallace Stevens was a destructive character, and as a destructive character he is one of the most traditional poets. Stevens was a poet who cleared ground for himself and his aesthetic projects?he was a radical, anarchistic poet?and also a poet who made culture and its continuance possible?he was a staunch conservative, a conserver. The funny thing is, his very radicalism is part and parcel of his conservatism.
The need for victimization and the search for purification in Philip Roth's American trilogy
Myths and archetypes, which are claimed to exist in man?s collective unconscious, are shown as a proof to explain the common behaviour patterns of the individuals and society. These mythical and archetypal images have been reflected in literature especially through tragedies since Old Testament till modern fiction. Though the reasons may differ through history, tragedies reflect the fall of mankind and the pain he suffers as a result of it through several archetypes. The usage of the same archetypes in the tragedies depicting the fall of man due to particular social and historical events of the rea he lives in puts forward the fact that archetypal images are universal, transcending time and place. Two of the archetypal and mythical figures that are generally depicted in tragedies and also evaluated in this thesis are ?scapegoat motif? and ?the need for sacrifice and victimization?. This thesis aims at analyzing the reasons for the need for victimization in different eras of mainly American history and its tragic outcomes that are reflected onto the lives of people in Philip Roth?s ?American Trilogy.? The main emphasis goes to the experiences of tragic heroes who fall victim to the societal rules in Philip Roth?s three recent novels, American Pastoral, I Married a Communist and The Human Stain.
Immigration and expectations in a new millennium: Re-examining American nation within a global scheme
This study deals with the immigration phenomenon which has been one of the most enduring and pervasive issues ingrained in the historical framework of the United States of America. The first part of the study brings up to date both the theoretical and the policy debate on the evolution and impact of immigration. The second purpose of the study is to take a closer look at the interdisciplinary, fiscal, philosophical, demographic and social networks and past and present projections driving immigration.As a result of the effects of the globalization that is put forward, the immigration has expanded its scope from the intellectual basis to rotary circles charting around educational and moral terms, demographic structure, environmental quality, economic security, and social stability and equity. The effects of this change process as a consequence of globalization and the increasing xenophobia have been more cumulative in the 21st century. The solutions that most effectively respond to whether the USA will or can embrace the diversity and share the public sphere or not in this age have been handled through a re-examination within the context of its global competitiveness, capacity, performance and competence in the new millennium.Throughout the history of the US, immigrants have been subjected to an assimilative/nativist policy of differing ratios. However such political adoptions fail to be successful in today?s world where boundaries and distance do not efface non-natives? bounds with their home countries.Besides, the new millennium is re-focused in order to elicit the reciprocal change in immigration and American society, the historical timing and key effects at macro-level such as contemporary global forces and economic restructuring and at micro-level, i.e. 11th December Twin Tower Attacks.In this study, the immigration policies from past to present are analyzed; and the scope of the globalization, global terror, global economy, identity and education are explored in order to reach the illation that the globalization, in its broadest sense, can both weaken and strengthen the whole nation paradoxically. The notion that this dynamism of the new millennium has the kinetic to turn the immigration and expectations upside down for both sides has been integrated into the proposed new model of immigration.
Defining race: Mixed-race relationships in the contemporary Chinese-American novel
This dissertation aims to discuss mixed-race relationships under the framework of contemporary Chinese-American novels. The founding ideal of the American society is structured upon the fact that the distinctiveness of the American nation stems from the mixing of different races into a nation called Americans. The mixing of races in America was not that easy due to racism, discrimination and social prejudices. The discussion of contemporary Chinese-American novels suggests that mixed-race relationships in American society are based on descent rather than the consent of individuals.First, this study aims to provide the reader with a historical background of Chinese-Americans for the purpose of demonstrating the uniqueness of their experiences, starting with the reason of their immigration to America, and their major roles in the development of American history. After presenting a historical account of race, this dissertation discusses that the increase in mixed-race relationships does not mean that racially discriminatory acts have come to an end. Mixed-race relationships in American society are still considered aberrant and illegitimate.There are important theoretical aspects that support the discussion of mixed-race relationships. The theories that will help to explore mixed-race relationships and understand the new structure of the Chinese-American family are concepts such as Werner Sollors?s concept of consent and descent. Another theoretical aspect is the fact that race is a social construction and that it has a formation process. The argument provided by Michael Omi and Howard Winant reveal that biological definitions of race are out of date and are not sufficient to explain the understanding of what race is in American society. In terms of whiteness theories, whiteness is not a racial category, rather, whiteness is defined as a concept which is superior to the other categories of race. With the discussion of mixed-race relationships, identity conflicts and adoption as a new family form in the contemporary Chinese-American novel, this study aims to argue that consent does not hold mixed-race families together; rather it is descent which supports the stability of a relationship.
Fragmented selves, madness and writing: An analysis of intellectual women's Dilemma in Doris Lessing's The Golden Notebook, and Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar
The aim of this study is to analyse the intellectual woman?s position in society as reflected in Doris Lessing?s The Golden Notebook (1962) and in Sylvia Plath?s The Bell Jar (1963). This thesis examines why Lessing?s and Plath?s creative women experience a dilemma as to whether to fulfill their literary aspirations or their societal roles as mother and wife, and discusses the oucomes of this dilemma. The main argument is that the artist woman suffers from a sense of fragmented self because of the patriarcal society?s rejection of her creative powers, and this fragmentation results in her descent into madness. But it is through madness by which the intellectual woman gains an awareness and her identity as artist gives her the courage to defy male-centred culture. Consequently, the woman artist eliminates her dilemma and appreciates her intellectual capacity.This study falls into five parts. In the first chapter, feminist literary criticism is introduced. The second chapter explores the relationship between woman and madness, and points out that woman?s endeavour to free herself from the oppression of patriarchal society is labelled as madness. The third and fourth chapters are devoted to the analyses of Lessing?s and Plath?s intellectual heroines? dilemmas. Finally, the last chapter reaches the conclusion that even though the intellectual woman always struggles not only with the pressure of society but also with her doubts about herself, she never lets them defeat her and never fails to recognize the value of her creativity.
Absent centers in Robert Coover's the Origin of the Brunists
Robert Coover?s The Origin of the Brunists (1966) analyzes the formation of a religious cult in a small mining town, West Condon, after a mine explosion kills nearly a hundred people, destroying all sense of order and security that previously existed. Confronted with a trauma of such devastating results, in order to compensate for their sense of insecurity and desperation, some of the townspeople come together, forming the group, the Brunists. They interpret this explosion as a divine message about an approaching apocalypse. However, this interpretation, this fictional belief, turns into ?reality,? becoming the defining and determining factor for the townspeople. This is the main irony Coover analyzes in his works about human lives, that is, how human intervention is imposed upon the world to make sense of and to symbolize it, and what the consequences of this intervention are.In order to analyze this intervention, this dissertation focuses on two theoretical bases; firstly, the postmodern narration and history writing, and next one of the most significant contemporary philosophers, Slavoj Zizek?s two significant themes or concepts, the Real and the fantasy. Through a reading and analyzing of the novel with these theoretical bases, I have shown how narrations function as buffer zones against traumas and fears, and how this function usually turns into self-made prisons for people.
Familial trauma and search for parents in Joyce Carol Oates' Marya: A life
The loss of parents, especially the loss of mother causes a psychological trauma in a person. If this loss is experienced in childhood, it will have crucial effects on the child and her future life. Only by the help of the social environment can this person get rid of its staggering effects. These institutions may be her companions or relatives she shares her life with or feels close to herself. They can be an asylum as religion, success in life or affairs with lovers or husbands in the future. The absence of mother figure leaves the person in a big gap which she tries to fill with the above institutions. The traumatized person strives for healing her self by facing the event which causes her the trauma.In the specificity of Joyce Carol Oates? Marya: A Life, the protagonist Marya can only reach peace in her life by reuniting with her mother. When mother-daughter bond, which was once broken, is established, it fixes the wounds in Marya?s inner self. Oates? ?daughter? Marya has a strong personality and she is reluctant to let her life be shattered by the trauma she encounters. She is a woman who fights against the masculine symbolic order. Marya suffers from loss of mother; however, the maternal silence in her life turns into a maternal discourse by means of her self assurance. Oates resists the limitations of the patriarchal culture on women. Despite societal limitations imposed upon maternal power, Oates? novels indicate that mothers who strain to assert their own desires and rights leave their daughters a powerful heritage.
David Ebershoff?un The Danish Girl ve Attila İlhan?ın Fena Halde Leman adlı romanlarında toplumsal cinsiyet yapılandırılması ve yapısökümü
Gender, which regulates the basic functioning of societies and individuals? existence in culture, has been a subject of interdisciplinary works and social sciences since the 1970s. Changing according to historical, geographical, social and cultural differences, this concept is divided as sex and gender by feminist critics. Asserted as the ideological tool of the dominant culture, that is patriarchy, gender is used to categorize the individuals as heterosexual men or women. While the dominant patriarchal culture locates strong, tough, authoritarian men at the top of the hierarchical order in society, it puts women in secondary positions as well as ostracizing the individuals who do not fit into categories of masculinity and femininity. Patriarchy labels gender non-conformists, who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans- people, as the abnormal members of society and puts them into minority status. Whereas these people have had non-discriminatory social statuses in various cultures existing from ancient times to present, they are subject to discrimination and they have to struggle to call for their ?existence.? In this context, it is asserted in this dissertation that gender is constructed depending on the dominant ideology and on its needs to maintain the social continuity.Construction of gender along with sociological and psychological situations of gender non-conformists are exemplified by David Ebershoff?s The Danish Girl (2000) and Attila İlhan?s Fena Halde Leman (2005). Based on the real life story of the first person to undergo sex reassigment surgery, David Ebershoff?s novel is examined focusing on the dominant culture?s suppression and its results on the trans persona as well as touching upon the 1930s Europe?s gender phenomenon. On the other hand, reviewed as a taboo breaking novel, Attila İlhan?s Fena Halde Leman is studied from the point of view of characters that destroy the binary oppositions of gender. Through making historical and social examinations, this study aims to reveal how gender and social identities are constructed and deconstructed by gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans people in the light of the two selected novels mentioned above.Key Words: 1) Sex, 2) Gender, 3) Gender Construction and Deconstruction, 4) David Ebershoff, 5) The Danish Girl, 6) Attila İlhan, 7) Fena Halde Leman.
Contemporary female images from Greek myths in Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin
Archetypal criticism is revised by feminist critics by means of which they claim that archetypes regarding women are redefined by the patriarchy and argue that archetypes belonging to the women in pre-historic times are still discernable in women?s fiction. Feminist Archetypal Criticism aims to demonstrate that masculine system fragmented the characteristics related to the wholeness of woman and ?victimized? her for the sake of the continuation of patriarchal structures via juxtaposing redefined archetypes by masculine system with the archetypes belonging to the wholeness of woman in pre-historic times. Furthermore, it presents woman?s efforts of survival in patriarchy by way of the archetypes concerning her nature in pre-historic times. This study basically aims to demonstrate the reconstructed archetypes which are still valid from Ancient Greek Myths to the present time in female images and to examine them on account of their reflecting the unconscious of the patriarchal system in Margaret Atwood?s The Blind Assassin.Key Words: 1) Archetypes and Myths, 2) Archetypal Criticism, 3) Feminist Archetypal Criticism, 4) Margaret Atwood, 5) The Blind Assassin.
Identity in Paul Auster's novels
Paul Auster is a contemporary American writer. He is widely known as a postmodern novelist but his other literary identities are neglected. This study attempts to examine examples from the writer?s entire output in order to do justice to the wide range of his work. Paul Auster is also a translator, a poet, a playwright, and a movide director. These different artistic activities of the writer might be observed in different phases in his life. The aim of considering as many phases as possible from Paul Auster?s life is to determine how he approaches the theme of identity. Auster offers a heterogenous blend of all his influences and offers a unique approach to identity. In his novels, identities show postmodern, existential, and European aspects and are marked by fluidity. In fact, the various influences Auster has make his identity as a writer fluid, too in the sense that he uses his varying themes from varying influences simultaneously. Therefore, an analysis of identity in Auster?s novels can be analyzed by looking at his early career to understand his own construction of identity. Then, the manifestations of these influences in his works can be analyzed in terms of the fluid identities his novels portray. This thesis concludes that in Auster?s novels-as well as in Auster?s person- identity appears in two ways: sychronically and diachronically