Monday, November 08, 2004
Elfriede Jelinek's Complex World
I must admit that when I first read about this year's winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature,the name Elfriede Jelinek---a 58 year old Austrian woman---meant nothing. I had not read any of her books. So many books, so little time; I have not read a lot of books that deserve attention.
Among her works is "Bambiland" (2003), a play described as a denouncement of America's war against Iraq.
Caught up in the pre-election blizzard of news, following the items about the presidential candidates and their positions took a lot of time. Elfriede Jelinek retired to a corner in the back of my mind. Then I happened to come across a video of the film "The Piano Teacher" (French, with sub-titles) by Michael Haneke. Watching Isabelle Huppert in the role of Erika Kohut, a sexually repressed, neurotic woman in her 30's,sharing an apartment with her domineering mother,on the verge of a precipice was a hard to forget experience. A fascinating film. I was revolted by some of the scenes, watching Erika in sado-masochistic rituals as she descended to the point of no return, yet, Huppert, by her superb acting, made me feel compassionate for Erika.
After November 3rd, when I thought about books to read, Ms. Jelinek surfaced. My world had suffered a blow. Majority of Americans showed their preference for a reactionary president and his policies. Thought it was time to take a break from politics and enter the pitiless world created by Elfriede Jelinek. First on my list: Die Klavierspielerin (1983)---The Piano Teacher, translated by Joachim Neugroschel, is said to be a partly autobiographical novel. Might not feel the same way about the book as I did about the film but think that Jelinek is worth exploring.
The Second Term of George W. Bush
Many of us seem to be in denial, offering arguments that Bush does not have a "mandate". Face it. He has, he has. Backed by a Congress with larger majorities in both houses, he will continue to move the nation to the right. His core support groups expect it of him, and he has proven beyond any doubt his tenacity to stick to his positions. Be prepared for social and environmental issues to suffer set backs on the domestic front. On foreign policy matters he might be forced to give some ground in an effort for rapprochement with Europe.
******************************
"You ain't seen nothin' yet
B-B-B-Baby, you just ain't seen nothin' yet"
----Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Among her works is "Bambiland" (2003), a play described as a denouncement of America's war against Iraq.
Caught up in the pre-election blizzard of news, following the items about the presidential candidates and their positions took a lot of time. Elfriede Jelinek retired to a corner in the back of my mind. Then I happened to come across a video of the film "The Piano Teacher" (French, with sub-titles) by Michael Haneke. Watching Isabelle Huppert in the role of Erika Kohut, a sexually repressed, neurotic woman in her 30's,sharing an apartment with her domineering mother,on the verge of a precipice was a hard to forget experience. A fascinating film. I was revolted by some of the scenes, watching Erika in sado-masochistic rituals as she descended to the point of no return, yet, Huppert, by her superb acting, made me feel compassionate for Erika.
After November 3rd, when I thought about books to read, Ms. Jelinek surfaced. My world had suffered a blow. Majority of Americans showed their preference for a reactionary president and his policies. Thought it was time to take a break from politics and enter the pitiless world created by Elfriede Jelinek. First on my list: Die Klavierspielerin (1983)---The Piano Teacher, translated by Joachim Neugroschel, is said to be a partly autobiographical novel. Might not feel the same way about the book as I did about the film but think that Jelinek is worth exploring.
The Second Term of George W. Bush
Many of us seem to be in denial, offering arguments that Bush does not have a "mandate". Face it. He has, he has. Backed by a Congress with larger majorities in both houses, he will continue to move the nation to the right. His core support groups expect it of him, and he has proven beyond any doubt his tenacity to stick to his positions. Be prepared for social and environmental issues to suffer set backs on the domestic front. On foreign policy matters he might be forced to give some ground in an effort for rapprochement with Europe.
******************************
"You ain't seen nothin' yet
B-B-B-Baby, you just ain't seen nothin' yet"
----Bachman-Turner Overdrive
