I think this is why Houellebecq resonates so much. He is one of the only few willing to adress problems of our day and age and to strip modernity naked and show all it is, all the dullness and bleakness, especially when it comes to male-female relations, (but not exclusively).
Also you should check out Greer's essay if you haven't yet, I think it echoes some of the sentiments you express here
I hadn't read Greer's essay before, but I do agree that it echoes the same sentiment. And on Houellebecq, that's the same impression I got from hearing about him, but I haven't yet read him. Mainly because I don't want to read him in translation and my French isn't yet good enough to read more "difficult" books. For me, it's also not a suprise, that it's a Frenchman and not an Anglo writing shuch books.
Mainly because I think there is some more possibility of "free thought" outside of the heavily anglicized world. I don't mean in the political sens. Having access to another language opens up different prespectives. Also you are more able to take some distance from the "Global media", if you come from one of the few developed countries that is semi-independent (like e.g. France and Russia) from it. It is hard to notice things if you are fully caught up in them. I think these two factors are part of the reason, why Houellebeq as a Frenchmen is able to more accuratly write about the modern world.
True, although France has become heavily americanized, moreso than when Houellebecq started writing in the early 2000s... Also I read it in french, the level of language is not too bad, its a fairly easy read. I compared to the translation and honestly it was lackluster.
It’s downright heartbreaking going from a modern novel to something like Edgar Allan Poe. The prose expresses an artistry and depth that is sorely lacking today. I think the first step for a would-be dissident writer is just to read fiction from before the 20th century and relearn all the words that have been sheared off.
I'm an American. I went to Europe this summer and I hated the idea of everyone being able to understand my conversations with my American friend in our mother tongue. We would have had to use another language, one not native to that country's people (we were in Germany), if we wanted our conversations to be more or less private. Now, I like learning other languages; I think it's fun. But no matter how well I learn any one of them, it won't be my mother tongue.
All this to say, I don't like English lingustic imperialism, either. I don't like the rapid degradation it has suffered in the last century. I read the King James Bible every day as a personal way to stem the tide.
I think this is why Houellebecq resonates so much. He is one of the only few willing to adress problems of our day and age and to strip modernity naked and show all it is, all the dullness and bleakness, especially when it comes to male-female relations, (but not exclusively).
Also you should check out Greer's essay if you haven't yet, I think it echoes some of the sentiments you express here
https://scholars-stage.org/where-have-all-the-great-works-gone/
I hadn't read Greer's essay before, but I do agree that it echoes the same sentiment. And on Houellebecq, that's the same impression I got from hearing about him, but I haven't yet read him. Mainly because I don't want to read him in translation and my French isn't yet good enough to read more "difficult" books. For me, it's also not a suprise, that it's a Frenchman and not an Anglo writing shuch books.
I think he sticks out even amongst the Frenchmen. But what are your thoughts, why do you think so ?
Mainly because I think there is some more possibility of "free thought" outside of the heavily anglicized world. I don't mean in the political sens. Having access to another language opens up different prespectives. Also you are more able to take some distance from the "Global media", if you come from one of the few developed countries that is semi-independent (like e.g. France and Russia) from it. It is hard to notice things if you are fully caught up in them. I think these two factors are part of the reason, why Houellebeq as a Frenchmen is able to more accuratly write about the modern world.
True, although France has become heavily americanized, moreso than when Houellebecq started writing in the early 2000s... Also I read it in french, the level of language is not too bad, its a fairly easy read. I compared to the translation and honestly it was lackluster.
Goed stuk. Gezelle zou ongetwijfeld dezelfde mening toegedaan zijn. Mooi om nog een minnaar van deze haast- vergeten dichter te zien.
It’s downright heartbreaking going from a modern novel to something like Edgar Allan Poe. The prose expresses an artistry and depth that is sorely lacking today. I think the first step for a would-be dissident writer is just to read fiction from before the 20th century and relearn all the words that have been sheared off.
I'm an American. I went to Europe this summer and I hated the idea of everyone being able to understand my conversations with my American friend in our mother tongue. We would have had to use another language, one not native to that country's people (we were in Germany), if we wanted our conversations to be more or less private. Now, I like learning other languages; I think it's fun. But no matter how well I learn any one of them, it won't be my mother tongue.
All this to say, I don't like English lingustic imperialism, either. I don't like the rapid degradation it has suffered in the last century. I read the King James Bible every day as a personal way to stem the tide.