Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes
The book Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes is a collection of essays, set out t... more The book Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes is a collection of essays, set out to explore the notion of identity as a constantly relevant, very complex, multi-faceted phenomenon. Understanding identity in a very broad sense, the authors approach it from various angles, highlighting its various aspects. The first section includes literary explorations that discuss identity issues of class, race, nation and history, as depicted in several works of, mostly, contemporary Anglo-American literature. The second section brings various linguistic studies of identity, starting with the usual sociolinguistic issues, but also including a range of other research routes, which draw upon insights from psychology, sociology, historical linguistics, cognitive linguistics, lexicology, functional grammar, and applied linguistics. The book addresses a broad academic audience. Due to its wide scope, both in topics covered and in varied theoretical approaches, it is not only aimed towards literary scholars studying modern Anglo-American literature, nor only at sociolinguists interested in language identity, but at numerous academics, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, who are interested in some of the disciplines that provided the framework for various articles (literary studies, sociology, cognitive linguistics, lexicology, functional grammar, academic writing, and English teaching). The book would be particularly appealing to all those who are interested in examining a variety of identity issues from diverse angles. The authors of the articles come from Serbia, the UK, Canada, Japan, Norway, and Romania.
Autobiography as identity quest : Todorović and his Book of revenge
s): However transparent the concept of autobiography may seem, there are numerous attempts at def... more s): However transparent the concept of autobiography may seem, there are numerous attempts at defining it. What all of them have in common is a focus on the narrative voice which explores its own past through the reconstruction of mental images preserved in the memory. The aim of an autobiography is thus to establish /confirm/ perpetuate the identity of the narrator or to follow its development in the course of his life. Dragan Todorović, a Canadian author of Serbian origin, explores his own Yugoslav past from the perspective of Canadian present offering in his Book of Revenge ample material for reconsidering autobiography as a genre in particular in its identity revealing / forming aspects. In the case of Todorović, this private quest is a subversive act regarding not only the system of values of his old homeland but also of Canada as his diasporic country. Quelque transparent que puisse paraître le concept de l'autobiographie, les essais de le définir sont nombreux. Ce qui est commun pour tous ces essais c'est la concentration sur la voix narrative qui explore son propre passé à travers la reconstruction des images mentales gardées dans la mémoire. Le but d'une autobiographie est donc d'établir, de confirmer et de perpétuer l'identité du narrateur, ou de suivre son développement au cours de sa vie. Dragan Todorović, l'auteur canadien de l'origine serbe, explore son propre passé du point de vue du Canadien actuel, en offrant dans son Livre de vengeance un ample matériel pour reconsidérer l'autobiographie comme un genre en particulier de l'aspect de se former et de se faire connaître. En cas de Todorović, sa recherche privée est un acte subversif concernant non seulement le système de valeurs de son ancienne patrie, mais aussi le Canada comme son pays de diaspora. Note: This paper is part of the Project 148024D, financed by the Ministry of Science, Republic of Serbia. References: [1] Anderson, Linda. Autobiography. The New Critical Idiom. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. [2] " Autobiography". Encyclopaedia of Religion. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001-2006 http://www.bookrags.com/research/autobiography-eorl-02/#bro_copy (date of access 20/04/2007) [3] Cobley, Paul. Narrative. The New Critical Idiom. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. [4] Definitions of autobiography on the Web: http://google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&q=define%3A+autobiography&lr (date of access 16/04/2007) [5] (1) http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn [6] (2) http://www.sedgeband.com/glossary.html [7] (3) http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/healthsci/vocab.html [8] (4) http://library.ci.glendale.ca.us/ls_definitions.asp [9] (5) http://library.thinkquest.org/23846/library/terms/index.html [10] (6) http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/130/133428/glossary.html [11] (7) http://www.iclasses.org/assets/literature/literary_glossary.cfm [12] (8) http://station05.qc.ca/csrs/bouscol/anglais/book_report/glossary3.html [13] (9) http://library.thinkquest.org/J002372F/whatisabio.htm [14] (10) http://groups.msn.com/writersclick101/literaryglossary.msnw [15] Definitions of ethnic autobiography on the Web: http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/resources/acl/iii2.html (date of access 16/04/2007) [16] Domanovic, Radoje. " Vodja": Sabrana dela II, priredio Dimitrije Vucenov. Beograd: Prosveta, 1964: 125-140. [17] Egan, Susana and Gabriele Helms. Autobiography and Changing Identities: Introduction, in Reflections: Autobiography and Canadian Literature, K. P. Stich (ed.). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 1989. IX-XX Search Go Advanced Search Browse Collections Authors Titles Autobiography as identity quest: Todorović and his Book of Revenge [18] Ferguson, Will. Why I Hate Canadians. Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1997. [19] Finney, Brian. British Literary Autobiography of the Twentieth Century. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1985. [20] Galullo, Lisa. Truth and Identity in Autobiography: Teaching Esmeralda Santiago's novel When I Was a Puerto Rican . Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. http://yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/1/00.01.03.x.html (date of access 12/04/2007) [21] Gilmore, Leigh. Autobiographics: A Feminist Theory of Women's Self-Representation (Reading Women Writing). New York: Cornell University Press, 1994. [22] Harcourt, Peter. A Canadian Journey, Conversations with Time. Ottawa: Oberon Press, 1994. [23] Hampl, Patricia. " Memory and Imagination." The Dolphin Reader. Douglas Hunt (ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. 93-104 [24] Hussain, Yasmin. Writing Diaspora: South African Women, Culture and Ethnicity. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005. [25] Jaynes, Julian. The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1990. [26] Johnson, Rebecca Ruppert. " Autobiography and Transformative Learning: Narrative in Search of Self." Journal of Transformative Education Vol. 1 No. 3, July 2003, 227-244. | DOI 10.1177/1541344603001003004 [27] Lejeune, Philippe. On Autobiography, Minneapolis: University of…
Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 2014
Visual effects are, naturally, conspicuous in theatrical performances, but even when we read Shak... more Visual effects are, naturally, conspicuous in theatrical performances, but even when we read Shakespeare we can internalise the experience of his characters and visualise the scenes. Vision is also important at another tier, that of his characters themselves, the way they see and experience other characters, the world and, very importantly, themselves. Sometimes because of distorted vision, sometimes because of malevolent input that works on their minds, or just because of inherent subjectivity of perception, the appearance of persons and things was substantially different from reality and that causes a tragic course of events and ultimate catastrophe. So, flawed vision was very much the tragic flaw of Shakespeare's heroes.
As one of the most constant propagators of Darwin's theory of evolution in our times, Richard Daw... more As one of the most constant propagators of Darwin's theory of evolution in our times, Richard Dawkins claims that we are the only species capable of cultural transmission of information in such a way that it can give rise to a form of evolution. This is how Dawkins introduces the meme as a unit of cultural transmission and as the agent of cultural evolution. The survival of the meme depends on its psychological appeal, and a new meme will replicate itself whenever favourable conditions arise. Any given diaspora makes for such a replication-inducing environment for the memes originating in the homeland. Commonly known as cultural traits, such memes can be found in diaspora literature. The aim of this article is to identify the memes that are described in the literature of Canadian authors of Serbian origin and compare that meme pool with typical Canadian values. Synchronic digraphia, 'inat,' and 'slava' are three uniquely Serbian units of culture that are explored in the cultural environment of Canada.
Facta Universitatis Series: Linguistics and Literature, 2002
Tihomir Levajac from Banja Luka in the Republic of Srpska wrote a book `I Dreamed of Canada` in w... more Tihomir Levajac from Banja Luka in the Republic of Srpska wrote a book `I Dreamed of Canada` in which he described his personal experience of Canada. His essays are a starting point for the analysis of the cultural clash between the Serbian and Canadian cultures, more specifically the feeling of inferiority that the Serbs share with many other citizens of the underdeveloped countries in relation to the Canadians, seen as a superior and privileged nation. A personal touch to this attempt to compare and contrast the two cultures is given through the analysis of one of David Albahari's stories in which this Serbian author, now Canadian resident, describes his life in Canada.
Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filološki fakultet, Srpska asocijacija za kanadske studije eBooks, 2021
In the context of Canada's history, migrations have always played an exceptional role. From the t... more In the context of Canada's history, migrations have always played an exceptional role. From the times the first colonies were started in the north American continent to the present moment, Canada has been dependent on the workforce and know-how which come with the influx of migrants from Europe and elsewhere. The hardships of early colonists as much as the problems of modern-day immigrants mark the history of Canada and give it specificities which distinguish it from many countries with a longer history. The next step in its development, in view of the global climate change and the necessary search for new habitats, may be joining the space-race and sending emigrants in spaceships to discover and colonise new planets. In her short story "The Emigrants" (2015) Colette Langlois encompasses the whole history of Canadian migrations through a dual narrative spanning the period from 1885 to the projected 2070 and showing pioneering efforts of two relatives: an English farmer making his homestead in Red Jacket, Assiniboia East, and his distant cousin, an abandoned female astronaut living her last days on Mars. Both are illustrative of Promised Land narratives which mark the 19 th and the 21 st centuries, showing that Lyotard's concern for the postmodern condition of humanity characterized, among other things, by the lack of grand narratives, was short-lived. The aim of the paper is to explore these two metanarratives, the American Promised Land and outer space as a promised land, in order to show similarities
The article discusses Karen Joy Fowler's 2013 novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, prima... more The article discusses Karen Joy Fowler's 2013 novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, primarily in the context of the growing demands for nonhuman animal rights/liberation. The general thrust of the novel is in keeping with animal rights activism and the animal studies' critical examination of the human/animal relations..
The paper will explore various forms of art perceived by the narrator of Homel's novel The Speaki... more The paper will explore various forms of art perceived by the narrator of Homel's novel The Speaking Cure. The setting of the novel is Belgrade in the turbulent 90s where seemingly there was no room for art. However, an acute observer, a Canadian experiencing the times from a more objective point of view, discovers a whole range of artistic forms, from surrogate to fine art, in different layers of the society. The paper will focus on them as the means of self-expression, survival and salvation following the main protagonist, a psychologist who resorts to literature in an attempt to deal with the reality. "PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF": SALVATION THROUGH ART IN HOMEL'S THE SPEAKING CURE In her review of Maggie Helwig's novel about the massacres in East Timor Where She Was Standing, Susan Gingell reminds us that "the last part of the twentieth century is a horror story of multiple strands-the disappeared of Argentina, the genocides of Rwanda and Bosnia, the torture chambers of any number of repressive regimes…" (Gingell, 148) However true, this account is faulty for not being distinctive of the quoted period. It is more likely that all periods of human history represent an endless horror story in instalments, as recognised by poets: There are no "New Wars," only episodes Of that same crude, ancestral fever. (Heighton, 55) Some episodes, such as the war in Vietnam, took many years to read through, some were very short, like the chapter on the Gulf War. The end of the twentieth century was marked by a three-month bombing of a European country, the twenty-first began by the 2002 war in Afghanistan and the still going on war in Iraq of 2003.
Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 2009
This paper problematizes the eff ect of one of the latest Rockstar Games' productions, Grand Thef... more This paper problematizes the eff ect of one of the latest Rockstar Games' productions, Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV). The alleged intention of this video game developers was to break up the stereotype of a video game character in terms of character complexity and moral dichotomy. They even endowed the main character with a name, Niko Bellic. A brief analysis of his psychological proϐile leaves doubts as to his originality, but not as to his ethnicity. The stereotype formed on wrong assumptions consequently does not seem to be broken at all, if indeed that was the original intention. Knowing the power of the entertainment industry to inϐluence young players, it seems that Rockstar Games reinforced an erroneous stereotypical image of Serbian nationals that should be corrected rather than reiterated.
This article is meant to be a sort of case study, where the case in question is a book of poetry ... more This article is meant to be a sort of case study, where the case in question is a book of poetry by Marilyn Dumont, and the study focuses on contemporary indigenous realities as represented by Dumont in her poems. A Really Good Brown Girl is a relatively short collection of poetry published in 1996 by Brick Books. It was interesting to see how much of contemporary indigenous reality will be identifiable in the poems collected in a single book by an author who is widely anthologised but not overwhelmingly popular in Canada. A close reading of her poetry proves that Dumont touches on many aspects of Métis contemporary reality such as the corruption of their culture, the problem of Indian identity, the relationship between the First Nations and the White people, living conditions, gender roles, and the school system. Support for Dumont's poetic rendering of the realities of indigenous people is found in other critical works. A conclusion may be drawn that social criticism finds its expression in the poetry which is personal and yet a form of resistance writing. Keywords Marilyn Dumont Á Poetry Á Contemporary indigenous realities Á Close reading Introduction: half human/half devil The first collection of poetry by Marilyn Dumont was published in 1996 by Brick Books under the title A Really Good Brown Girl which comes from the second poem in the collection, ''Memoirs of a Really Good Brown Girl.'' The book is divided into four sections with thematic titles: Squaw Poems, What More Than Dance, White Noise, and Made of Water. Although the title of the first section
Facta Universitatis Series: Linguistics and Literature, 2007
The paper will focus on the importance of history for cultural studies following the views of Fre... more The paper will focus on the importance of history for cultural studies following the views of Frederik Brogger that if culture is defined as belief systems then cultural studies must be an interdisciplinary combination of anthropological, historical, linguistic, and literary approaches. Within the historical context various issues should be tackled, such as explanation vs. interpretation, referentiality vs. figurativeness, the particular vs. the representative, and, for the purpose of this presentation, fact vs. fiction. The widespread misconception that history deals exclusively with facts while fiction is the domain of literature will be analysed in relation to a 7th century historical event, the Synod of Whitby, which was more or less a random choice since all historical events pose the problem of interpretation. The earliest written record considered a fact will be discussed from the point of unreliability of sources in order to show that they inevitably become fiction in the sense of interpretation. The real religious, economic and political reasons which led to the Synod of Whitby will be also mentioned with the idea of stressing the importance of history for the discipline of cultural studies.
The last two decades in literary studies have been marked by increasing interest in evolutionary ... more The last two decades in literary studies have been marked by increasing interest in evolutionary theories of art involving psychology, cognitive science, biology, neurology, etc., all somehow related to Darwinism. A common conclusion of various researches is that storytelling is an adaptation that has signiÞ cantly contributed to human survival as a species, making man Homo Fictus rather than Homo Sapiens. A number of reasons are given as to why people tell stories and how stories make us human. In this article, I would like to argue that telling stories indeed has a high survival value, not only because Boyd (On the Origin of Stories 2009) claims art develops creativity and encourages cooperation, or because Gottschall (The Storytelling Animal 2012) believes we need to make sense of the world and satisfy our hunger for meaning by imposing patterns, but also because storytelling can be a survival technique. In this sense, the Þ ctional Shahrazad o ers an option to existentially thre...
Facta Universitatis Series Linguistics and Literature, Jan 26, 2015
The inspiration for the essay was Nelson Goodman's claim that the dualism of nature and culture i... more The inspiration for the essay was Nelson Goodman's claim that the dualism of nature and culture is still academically relevant. Our goal was to extend it to the concept of convention and relate it to the currently very hot issue of marriage. We would like to argue that the institution of marriage belongs in an indeterminate category between nature and convention, which allows for playing with the gender conventions which constitute a marriage. The arguments are taken from anthropology, and the text used for illustrations is a short story, The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The conclusion is that the emergence of an evolutionarily more stable society and consequent survival of Homo hinged on marriage as a foundation block of culture, enforcing social behavioural constancy governed by convention. At the end of the essay, we briefly refer to the post-postmodern need for the revision of values, and problematize marriage as a salvational space and a keeper of meaning in the post-cynical age. The essay consists of three sections: 1. Introduction: Marriage between Nature and Convention; 2. Playing with Gender Conventions; 3. Conclusion: Form as a Keeper of Meaning.
Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes
The book Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes is a collection of essays, set out t... more The book Identity Issues: Literary and Linguistic Landscapes is a collection of essays, set out to explore the notion of identity as a constantly relevant, very complex, multi-faceted phenomenon. Understanding identity in a very broad sense, the authors approach it from various angles, highlighting its various aspects. The first section includes literary explorations that discuss identity issues of class, race, nation and history, as depicted in several works of, mostly, contemporary Anglo-American literature. The second section brings various linguistic studies of identity, starting with the usual sociolinguistic issues, but also including a range of other research routes, which draw upon insights from psychology, sociology, historical linguistics, cognitive linguistics, lexicology, functional grammar, and applied linguistics. The book addresses a broad academic audience. Due to its wide scope, both in topics covered and in varied theoretical approaches, it is not only aimed towards literary scholars studying modern Anglo-American literature, nor only at sociolinguists interested in language identity, but at numerous academics, as well as undergraduate and graduate students, who are interested in some of the disciplines that provided the framework for various articles (literary studies, sociology, cognitive linguistics, lexicology, functional grammar, academic writing, and English teaching). The book would be particularly appealing to all those who are interested in examining a variety of identity issues from diverse angles. The authors of the articles come from Serbia, the UK, Canada, Japan, Norway, and Romania.
Autobiography as identity quest : Todorović and his Book of revenge
s): However transparent the concept of autobiography may seem, there are numerous attempts at def... more s): However transparent the concept of autobiography may seem, there are numerous attempts at defining it. What all of them have in common is a focus on the narrative voice which explores its own past through the reconstruction of mental images preserved in the memory. The aim of an autobiography is thus to establish /confirm/ perpetuate the identity of the narrator or to follow its development in the course of his life. Dragan Todorović, a Canadian author of Serbian origin, explores his own Yugoslav past from the perspective of Canadian present offering in his Book of Revenge ample material for reconsidering autobiography as a genre in particular in its identity revealing / forming aspects. In the case of Todorović, this private quest is a subversive act regarding not only the system of values of his old homeland but also of Canada as his diasporic country. Quelque transparent que puisse paraître le concept de l'autobiographie, les essais de le définir sont nombreux. Ce qui est commun pour tous ces essais c'est la concentration sur la voix narrative qui explore son propre passé à travers la reconstruction des images mentales gardées dans la mémoire. Le but d'une autobiographie est donc d'établir, de confirmer et de perpétuer l'identité du narrateur, ou de suivre son développement au cours de sa vie. Dragan Todorović, l'auteur canadien de l'origine serbe, explore son propre passé du point de vue du Canadien actuel, en offrant dans son Livre de vengeance un ample matériel pour reconsidérer l'autobiographie comme un genre en particulier de l'aspect de se former et de se faire connaître. En cas de Todorović, sa recherche privée est un acte subversif concernant non seulement le système de valeurs de son ancienne patrie, mais aussi le Canada comme son pays de diaspora. Note: This paper is part of the Project 148024D, financed by the Ministry of Science, Republic of Serbia. References: [1] Anderson, Linda. Autobiography. The New Critical Idiom. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. [2] " Autobiography". Encyclopaedia of Religion. Macmillan Reference USA, 2001-2006 http://www.bookrags.com/research/autobiography-eorl-02/#bro_copy (date of access 20/04/2007) [3] Cobley, Paul. Narrative. The New Critical Idiom. London and New York: Routledge, 2001. [4] Definitions of autobiography on the Web: http://google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&q=define%3A+autobiography&lr (date of access 16/04/2007) [5] (1) http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn [6] (2) http://www.sedgeband.com/glossary.html [7] (3) http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/healthsci/vocab.html [8] (4) http://library.ci.glendale.ca.us/ls_definitions.asp [9] (5) http://library.thinkquest.org/23846/library/terms/index.html [10] (6) http://wps.ablongman.com/wps/media/objects/130/133428/glossary.html [11] (7) http://www.iclasses.org/assets/literature/literary_glossary.cfm [12] (8) http://station05.qc.ca/csrs/bouscol/anglais/book_report/glossary3.html [13] (9) http://library.thinkquest.org/J002372F/whatisabio.htm [14] (10) http://groups.msn.com/writersclick101/literaryglossary.msnw [15] Definitions of ethnic autobiography on the Web: http://www.evergreen.edu/washcenter/resources/acl/iii2.html (date of access 16/04/2007) [16] Domanovic, Radoje. " Vodja": Sabrana dela II, priredio Dimitrije Vucenov. Beograd: Prosveta, 1964: 125-140. [17] Egan, Susana and Gabriele Helms. Autobiography and Changing Identities: Introduction, in Reflections: Autobiography and Canadian Literature, K. P. Stich (ed.). Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 1989. IX-XX Search Go Advanced Search Browse Collections Authors Titles Autobiography as identity quest: Todorović and his Book of Revenge [18] Ferguson, Will. Why I Hate Canadians. Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1997. [19] Finney, Brian. British Literary Autobiography of the Twentieth Century. London: Faber and Faber Limited, 1985. [20] Galullo, Lisa. Truth and Identity in Autobiography: Teaching Esmeralda Santiago's novel When I Was a Puerto Rican . Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. http://yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/1/00.01.03.x.html (date of access 12/04/2007) [21] Gilmore, Leigh. Autobiographics: A Feminist Theory of Women's Self-Representation (Reading Women Writing). New York: Cornell University Press, 1994. [22] Harcourt, Peter. A Canadian Journey, Conversations with Time. Ottawa: Oberon Press, 1994. [23] Hampl, Patricia. " Memory and Imagination." The Dolphin Reader. Douglas Hunt (ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990. 93-104 [24] Hussain, Yasmin. Writing Diaspora: South African Women, Culture and Ethnicity. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2005. [25] Jaynes, Julian. The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1990. [26] Johnson, Rebecca Ruppert. " Autobiography and Transformative Learning: Narrative in Search of Self." Journal of Transformative Education Vol. 1 No. 3, July 2003, 227-244. | DOI 10.1177/1541344603001003004 [27] Lejeune, Philippe. On Autobiography, Minneapolis: University of…
Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 2014
Visual effects are, naturally, conspicuous in theatrical performances, but even when we read Shak... more Visual effects are, naturally, conspicuous in theatrical performances, but even when we read Shakespeare we can internalise the experience of his characters and visualise the scenes. Vision is also important at another tier, that of his characters themselves, the way they see and experience other characters, the world and, very importantly, themselves. Sometimes because of distorted vision, sometimes because of malevolent input that works on their minds, or just because of inherent subjectivity of perception, the appearance of persons and things was substantially different from reality and that causes a tragic course of events and ultimate catastrophe. So, flawed vision was very much the tragic flaw of Shakespeare's heroes.
As one of the most constant propagators of Darwin's theory of evolution in our times, Richard Daw... more As one of the most constant propagators of Darwin's theory of evolution in our times, Richard Dawkins claims that we are the only species capable of cultural transmission of information in such a way that it can give rise to a form of evolution. This is how Dawkins introduces the meme as a unit of cultural transmission and as the agent of cultural evolution. The survival of the meme depends on its psychological appeal, and a new meme will replicate itself whenever favourable conditions arise. Any given diaspora makes for such a replication-inducing environment for the memes originating in the homeland. Commonly known as cultural traits, such memes can be found in diaspora literature. The aim of this article is to identify the memes that are described in the literature of Canadian authors of Serbian origin and compare that meme pool with typical Canadian values. Synchronic digraphia, 'inat,' and 'slava' are three uniquely Serbian units of culture that are explored in the cultural environment of Canada.
Facta Universitatis Series: Linguistics and Literature, 2002
Tihomir Levajac from Banja Luka in the Republic of Srpska wrote a book `I Dreamed of Canada` in w... more Tihomir Levajac from Banja Luka in the Republic of Srpska wrote a book `I Dreamed of Canada` in which he described his personal experience of Canada. His essays are a starting point for the analysis of the cultural clash between the Serbian and Canadian cultures, more specifically the feeling of inferiority that the Serbs share with many other citizens of the underdeveloped countries in relation to the Canadians, seen as a superior and privileged nation. A personal touch to this attempt to compare and contrast the two cultures is given through the analysis of one of David Albahari's stories in which this Serbian author, now Canadian resident, describes his life in Canada.
Univerzitet u Beogradu, Filološki fakultet, Srpska asocijacija za kanadske studije eBooks, 2021
In the context of Canada's history, migrations have always played an exceptional role. From the t... more In the context of Canada's history, migrations have always played an exceptional role. From the times the first colonies were started in the north American continent to the present moment, Canada has been dependent on the workforce and know-how which come with the influx of migrants from Europe and elsewhere. The hardships of early colonists as much as the problems of modern-day immigrants mark the history of Canada and give it specificities which distinguish it from many countries with a longer history. The next step in its development, in view of the global climate change and the necessary search for new habitats, may be joining the space-race and sending emigrants in spaceships to discover and colonise new planets. In her short story "The Emigrants" (2015) Colette Langlois encompasses the whole history of Canadian migrations through a dual narrative spanning the period from 1885 to the projected 2070 and showing pioneering efforts of two relatives: an English farmer making his homestead in Red Jacket, Assiniboia East, and his distant cousin, an abandoned female astronaut living her last days on Mars. Both are illustrative of Promised Land narratives which mark the 19 th and the 21 st centuries, showing that Lyotard's concern for the postmodern condition of humanity characterized, among other things, by the lack of grand narratives, was short-lived. The aim of the paper is to explore these two metanarratives, the American Promised Land and outer space as a promised land, in order to show similarities
The article discusses Karen Joy Fowler's 2013 novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, prima... more The article discusses Karen Joy Fowler's 2013 novel We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves, primarily in the context of the growing demands for nonhuman animal rights/liberation. The general thrust of the novel is in keeping with animal rights activism and the animal studies' critical examination of the human/animal relations..
The paper will explore various forms of art perceived by the narrator of Homel's novel The Speaki... more The paper will explore various forms of art perceived by the narrator of Homel's novel The Speaking Cure. The setting of the novel is Belgrade in the turbulent 90s where seemingly there was no room for art. However, an acute observer, a Canadian experiencing the times from a more objective point of view, discovers a whole range of artistic forms, from surrogate to fine art, in different layers of the society. The paper will focus on them as the means of self-expression, survival and salvation following the main protagonist, a psychologist who resorts to literature in an attempt to deal with the reality. "PHYSICIAN, HEAL THYSELF": SALVATION THROUGH ART IN HOMEL'S THE SPEAKING CURE In her review of Maggie Helwig's novel about the massacres in East Timor Where She Was Standing, Susan Gingell reminds us that "the last part of the twentieth century is a horror story of multiple strands-the disappeared of Argentina, the genocides of Rwanda and Bosnia, the torture chambers of any number of repressive regimes…" (Gingell, 148) However true, this account is faulty for not being distinctive of the quoted period. It is more likely that all periods of human history represent an endless horror story in instalments, as recognised by poets: There are no "New Wars," only episodes Of that same crude, ancestral fever. (Heighton, 55) Some episodes, such as the war in Vietnam, took many years to read through, some were very short, like the chapter on the Gulf War. The end of the twentieth century was marked by a three-month bombing of a European country, the twenty-first began by the 2002 war in Afghanistan and the still going on war in Iraq of 2003.
Belgrade English Language and Literature Studies, 2009
This paper problematizes the eff ect of one of the latest Rockstar Games' productions, Grand Thef... more This paper problematizes the eff ect of one of the latest Rockstar Games' productions, Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV). The alleged intention of this video game developers was to break up the stereotype of a video game character in terms of character complexity and moral dichotomy. They even endowed the main character with a name, Niko Bellic. A brief analysis of his psychological proϐile leaves doubts as to his originality, but not as to his ethnicity. The stereotype formed on wrong assumptions consequently does not seem to be broken at all, if indeed that was the original intention. Knowing the power of the entertainment industry to inϐluence young players, it seems that Rockstar Games reinforced an erroneous stereotypical image of Serbian nationals that should be corrected rather than reiterated.
This article is meant to be a sort of case study, where the case in question is a book of poetry ... more This article is meant to be a sort of case study, where the case in question is a book of poetry by Marilyn Dumont, and the study focuses on contemporary indigenous realities as represented by Dumont in her poems. A Really Good Brown Girl is a relatively short collection of poetry published in 1996 by Brick Books. It was interesting to see how much of contemporary indigenous reality will be identifiable in the poems collected in a single book by an author who is widely anthologised but not overwhelmingly popular in Canada. A close reading of her poetry proves that Dumont touches on many aspects of Métis contemporary reality such as the corruption of their culture, the problem of Indian identity, the relationship between the First Nations and the White people, living conditions, gender roles, and the school system. Support for Dumont's poetic rendering of the realities of indigenous people is found in other critical works. A conclusion may be drawn that social criticism finds its expression in the poetry which is personal and yet a form of resistance writing. Keywords Marilyn Dumont Á Poetry Á Contemporary indigenous realities Á Close reading Introduction: half human/half devil The first collection of poetry by Marilyn Dumont was published in 1996 by Brick Books under the title A Really Good Brown Girl which comes from the second poem in the collection, ''Memoirs of a Really Good Brown Girl.'' The book is divided into four sections with thematic titles: Squaw Poems, What More Than Dance, White Noise, and Made of Water. Although the title of the first section
Facta Universitatis Series: Linguistics and Literature, 2007
The paper will focus on the importance of history for cultural studies following the views of Fre... more The paper will focus on the importance of history for cultural studies following the views of Frederik Brogger that if culture is defined as belief systems then cultural studies must be an interdisciplinary combination of anthropological, historical, linguistic, and literary approaches. Within the historical context various issues should be tackled, such as explanation vs. interpretation, referentiality vs. figurativeness, the particular vs. the representative, and, for the purpose of this presentation, fact vs. fiction. The widespread misconception that history deals exclusively with facts while fiction is the domain of literature will be analysed in relation to a 7th century historical event, the Synod of Whitby, which was more or less a random choice since all historical events pose the problem of interpretation. The earliest written record considered a fact will be discussed from the point of unreliability of sources in order to show that they inevitably become fiction in the sense of interpretation. The real religious, economic and political reasons which led to the Synod of Whitby will be also mentioned with the idea of stressing the importance of history for the discipline of cultural studies.
The last two decades in literary studies have been marked by increasing interest in evolutionary ... more The last two decades in literary studies have been marked by increasing interest in evolutionary theories of art involving psychology, cognitive science, biology, neurology, etc., all somehow related to Darwinism. A common conclusion of various researches is that storytelling is an adaptation that has signiÞ cantly contributed to human survival as a species, making man Homo Fictus rather than Homo Sapiens. A number of reasons are given as to why people tell stories and how stories make us human. In this article, I would like to argue that telling stories indeed has a high survival value, not only because Boyd (On the Origin of Stories 2009) claims art develops creativity and encourages cooperation, or because Gottschall (The Storytelling Animal 2012) believes we need to make sense of the world and satisfy our hunger for meaning by imposing patterns, but also because storytelling can be a survival technique. In this sense, the Þ ctional Shahrazad o ers an option to existentially thre...
Facta Universitatis Series Linguistics and Literature, Jan 26, 2015
The inspiration for the essay was Nelson Goodman's claim that the dualism of nature and culture i... more The inspiration for the essay was Nelson Goodman's claim that the dualism of nature and culture is still academically relevant. Our goal was to extend it to the concept of convention and relate it to the currently very hot issue of marriage. We would like to argue that the institution of marriage belongs in an indeterminate category between nature and convention, which allows for playing with the gender conventions which constitute a marriage. The arguments are taken from anthropology, and the text used for illustrations is a short story, The Quarantine at Alexander Abraham's by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. The conclusion is that the emergence of an evolutionarily more stable society and consequent survival of Homo hinged on marriage as a foundation block of culture, enforcing social behavioural constancy governed by convention. At the end of the essay, we briefly refer to the post-postmodern need for the revision of values, and problematize marriage as a salvational space and a keeper of meaning in the post-cynical age. The essay consists of three sections: 1. Introduction: Marriage between Nature and Convention; 2. Playing with Gender Conventions; 3. Conclusion: Form as a Keeper of Meaning.
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