Conference Presentations by Olena Boylu
"Narratives of Displacement" International Conference/London Center for Interdisciplinary Research, 2023
Louise Erdrich’s recently published The Night Watchman (2020) is a powerful narrative of displace... more Louise Erdrich’s recently published The Night Watchman (2020) is a powerful narrative of displacement that tells a story of Native American communities who are once again threatened by the American government to be terminated and moved from their ancestral lands. The author explores the ways in which government policies, capitalism, and discrimination have crippled indigenous communities throughout history. Centralizing on the mid-20th century, Erdrich depicts a particular case that was experienced directly by her grandfather and other family members. However, the most striking side of the story appears to be not the fear of physical displacement but the cultural one which becomes inevitable in the process. Forced assimilation into white American culture and the effect of that same culture on these people reveal numerous human tragedies throughout the novel. The resilience and determination of Native Americans to protect their traditions, language, and way of life despite the environment, living or working conditions and ignorant politicians reflect the depth and strength of the character that inhabited those lands for much longer than any American. Furthermore, the presence of supernatural elements within the story and the emphasis on the connection with nature once again project the authenticity and uniqueness of Native American culture. Hence, by exploring the complex history of displacement and resistance, the novel reminds us of the importance of acknowledging and addressing the injustices that have been inflicted on these communities and the necessity of action toward an equitable future.
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According to Ralph Waldo Emerson ―Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it ga... more According to Ralph Waldo Emerson ―Society never advances. It recedes as fast on one side as it gains on the other.‖ The reciprocal relationship of progress and regress, which is stressed by the author in his ―Self-Reliance‖ (1841), is the most compelling and controversial characteristic of society even in the 21st century, i.e. the age of information technology. Living in a world where every kind of product, service or information are easily available, inevitably pushes people to believe in their superiority, quasi-power, and invincibility while the destruction of such an illusion lies basically in a simple and sudden disconnection from the outer world. Precisely this kind of an apocalyptic atmosphere is explored by one of the most outstanding postmodern American writers, Don DeLillo, who in his latest short novel The Silence (2020) projects us the ambience of 2022 New York during a blackout. The author recreates a timely representation of our daily life with its domineering digital consciousness that surreptitiously reigns over us. Through the Beckettian atmosphere, DeLillo projects not just the absurdity of the 21st century life but also the desperate position of a human being in a seemingly abundant environment. Evaluating the effects of physical/technical disconnection on our digital consciousness clearly reveals our mental disconnection from our selves and our lives, while emphasizing a significant gap in our survival instincts.
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An Extraordinary Woman on an Extraordinary Journey
Among various attributions like novelist, wa... more An Extraordinary Woman on an Extraordinary Journey
Among various attributions like novelist, war correspondent and journalist, Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) often felt uncomfortable with being remembered as yet another wife of Ernest Hemingway, whom she divorced after five years of marriage. The independent and assertive character of this woman was never bottled up by any man who entered her life. On the contrary, she managed to leave a trace in history as the only woman journalist who managed to witness D-Day in person, an incredible achievement for a woman in the middle of the 20th century. Furthermore, Gellhorn accomplished to cover almost every war during her extended career which brought her the title of the best war correspondent of the 20th century. Eventually she became a “moral true north for quite a lot of us” as her biographer Victoria Glendinning stated upon Martha's death. Among her numerous works there is one that remains relatively unknown and attracts the reader with its intimate style and incisive humor. Travels with Myself and Another: A Memoir (1978) covers a journey by the author to different locations around the world. Her peculiar style and observations as well as impressions provide a controversial perspective on the character of this extraordinary woman and the events that were unfolding around the world. Throughout this journey of Gellhorn and her unique insight into the environment of various places, the political climate as well as cultural atmosphere of the world would be traced and evaluated. In the 21st century, while women are still fighting for equality and justice, Martha Gellhorn stands out as a preeminent woman who managed to challenge the man’s world.
Keywords: Gellhorn, travel literature, politics, history, culture.
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Vineland: A Historical and Political Space
Thomas Pynchon, who is widely known for his intense... more Vineland: A Historical and Political Space
Thomas Pynchon, who is widely known for his intense and complicated works, in his fourth novel Vineland (1990) vigorously criticizes Ronald Reagan’s United States of America. As an imaginary town and county in Northern California, Vineland turns into a stage for a particular historical events and projects the authors perspective on the politics and society of the period. Pynchon’s deliberate choice of the title reminds a different geography that was discovered by Leif Erickson long before Columbus. A land of `milk and honey` this time appears in a different atmosphere of the 20th century with its political upheavals and social transformation. Moreover, settled in 1984 the novel also implies an Orwellian world that can be analyzed from several angels. Hence this paper aims to examine the landscape provided by the author as well as its role in the historical and political context of the novel.
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MEMORY AND HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN AMERICAN PASTORAL BY PHILIP ROTH
Narrated by Nathan Zuc... more MEMORY AND HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN AMERICAN PASTORAL BY PHILIP ROTH
Narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, American Pastoral provides a bunch of memories and historical events that provide a substantial evaluation of a particular period in American history. Through the characters of the novel and their experiences, Roth once more manages to create a historical image, that he ironically calls pastoral, looking at which the reader can question heroes’ as well as his or her own consciousness about the particular events that unfold in the past. As a complex and multilateral notion historical consciousness appears to be a significant concept that should be evaluated and explained in order to appreciate its impact on a human being and society in general. Thus analyzing the major historical traits within the novel and their connection and interactions with the main characters, this paper aims to evaluate the meaning, content and significance of the historical consciousness and memory in general thus drawing the attention to the heftiness of history as a whole.
Keywords: Philip Roth, American Pastoral, historical consciousness, memory, history
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Rephrasing Freedom/Resisting Authority:
Physical and Mental Confinement in Russian-American Lit... more Rephrasing Freedom/Resisting Authority:
Physical and Mental Confinement in Russian-American Literature by Ayn Rand
The ideological pressure of a totalitarian regime that blossomed with the birth of a new government after the Russian Revolution in 1917 drained out the individualism, uniqueness and aesthetic senses of the individuals forcing them towards clichés and restrictions articulated by the dictatorship. A new kind of so-called freedom formulated for the society was profoundly imposed, a freedom within the borders. Those who preferred to cross the red lines had to endure harassment, intimidation and even detention in concentration camps or prisons, while the fortunate ones got their opportunity to decamp. The rest of the society was “existing” accordingly, working for the good of their government and community. This sociopolitical struggle lasted for decades on physical as well as mental levels and the frontline of it was represented by intellectuals, writers and philosophers. Several important authors expressed harsh criticism towards the system what caused imprisonment, deportation or even expatriation. Among them such Soviet dissidents like Alexandr Soljenitsin and Boris Pasternak are particularly well known names. Similarly, a Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, who migrated to the USA in 1926, became one of the prominent critics of this dictatorial order and its effect on the human psyche and life in general. Analyzing her Anthem and We The Living, which are known for their anti-totalitarian stance, will project the gravity and intensity of the external as well as internal crisis generated by the totalitarian regime and its burden for the humanity.
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CULTURE OF FEAR
The first decade of the 21st century in the literary world was marked by anoth... more CULTURE OF FEAR
The first decade of the 21st century in the literary world was marked by another splash of the gothic genre that spreads its roots to the 18th century. Vampires, werewolves, angels and shape shifters became the trend characters which were consumed not only through novels but also via television series and Hollywood movies. Only Twilight series sold one hundred million copies in five years so it became impossible to ignore such social phenomenon. Concentrating on the American reader and culture this paper is going to analyze the possible changes in the society that could probably become the reasons for such a notion because if we would pass classical reasons like millennium fears and personal anxieties these gothic products may reflect much deeper fears that may lay in the base of the contemporary American public. Here it will be analyzed whether it is a Marxian image of the Capitalistic system as a vampire or Michael Moore’s “culture of fear” that according to this filmmaker is a common characteristic for the American society which is constantly under the pressure for national and personal security. Or maybe it is a kind of escapism from the real world that gradually turns to be difficult to cope with in the new century. So this challenge of the supernatural towards the human race may reflect not only the psychological state but also cultural and even political agendas of the country and explain some significant sociological facts.
Keywords: Gothic, revival, fear, culture, fiction.
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NEW YORK ARCHITECTURE: MANIFESTING THE DESTINY OF THE NATION
From the beginning of its histor... more NEW YORK ARCHITECTURE: MANIFESTING THE DESTINY OF THE NATION
From the beginning of its history the United States of America was different from any other country because of the “second chance” opportunity for the humankind to start from the beginning and build a better government and community than they left back in Europe. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were the main dynamos for the people to survive on the New Land but the most distinguished character of the nation was its continuous stimuli to move further (to West) and explore the new horizons. This physical movement, which established the base of the American identity, was finalized in 1893 when Frederick Jackson Turner in his speech “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” officially declared the closure of the frontier. However, this national dynamism remained and became the essential element of every sphere of American life. One of these spheres that expressed and reflected the culture and character of the nation no doubt, was (and still is) New York’s extraordinarily ambitious architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century the economic opportunities and such industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie with his “steel empire” let the country to continue its movement, this time vertically. In a short period of time New York became a huge metropolitan enhanced with the skyscrapers and bridges. Even nowadays “The Big Apple” continues to charm people with its architecture which represents not only the culture and national spirit but also the power of the country. For example, Empire State Building signifies the “capitalistic” America whereas Chrysler Building celebrated the “modern” America; many others like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge - the first longest suspension bridge in the world, the triangle shaped skyscraper Flatiron Building standing as a symbol of innovation stirred the imagination of generations of American writers and poets. In this paper the basic cultural and national significations of the New York City will be discussed in relation to its architectural masterpieces; and also the works of several poets and writers such as James Fennimore Cooper, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, E.L. Doctorow, Marianne Moore, Paul Auster who had already appreciated the architectural language of the city as a cultural expression will be explored and cited.
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Papers by Olena Boylu
aspeers: emerging voices in american studies, 2024
Nowadays one of the most intriguing debates all over the world appears to be the ongoing battle b... more Nowadays one of the most intriguing debates all over the world appears to be the ongoing battle between digital culture and the humanities. The liberal arts, both physically (due to the budget cuts) and mentally, find themselves engaged in a struggle for survival within the Information Age, which is marked by pervasive social media and an enormous reservoir of visual material and (dis)information. Furthermore, the encroachment of artificial intelligence—which, besides opening new horizons, mercilessly drains the creativity, patience, and fortitude of the younger generation, who are on their educational journey—exacerbates an already existing dilemma. Just as we begin to admit the inevitability of the new world that has been ‘loading’ since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the number of articles on the necessity and vitality of the humanities in our lives multiply with each day. As a literary scholar within the field of American studies, I celebrated each piece of writing that aimed at defending and excelling the nature and the significance of the humanities as a discipline. Although the circle of the ‘guardians’ has shrunk considerably, it is encouraging to see that there are people who still see the power of genuine literature. Hence, when I received the honorary invitation to be a professorial voice for this issue along with young talented scholars, I decided to use this chance to humbly evoke, once again, how literature can provide a multidimensional perspective on the essential elements of our lives, help us understand the deeper layers of our existence, and push ourselves beyond the borders and frames of our mind.
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GAZİANTEP UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, 2024
Paul Auster, one of the most distinguished contemporary American writers, creates a multi-layered... more Paul Auster, one of the most distinguished contemporary American writers, creates a multi-layered narrative within his novel Man in the Dark. Published in 2008, this literary work addresses essential themes and concerns relating to American history as well as social and political agendas of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Precisely the events of September 11, which dramatically added a new dimension to the trauma studies, lie in the core of the Auster’s narrative. The author besides focusing on the effects of a traumatic experience on a human being, creates an alternative vision of history that pushes the reader to question the essence of existence. By merging countless narratives, both personal and national, the author initiates a journey of healing for his characters, ultimately guiding them toward recovery. Thus, one of the major focuses of this article will be to follow the evolution of traumatized personalities within the frames of current trauma studies. On the other hand, investigating the subtle bond between national and personal traumas will illuminate the reciprocal relationship between collective memory and individual experience, shedding light on the profound
ways in which historical events can shape personal narratives. Hence the article seeks to disentangle the intricate connections between history, memory, and healing, offering a comprehensive exploration of Auster's
contribution to the understanding of the human predicament.
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The Journal of International Social Research, 2021
Jerome David Salinger’s only novel Catcher in the Rye provides one of the most vivid pictures of ... more Jerome David Salinger’s only novel Catcher in the Rye provides one of the most vivid pictures of the mid-20th century United States of America. Experience of the Great War, the Great Depression, and the World War II deeply affected American society and after the war ended the only target became a society in consensus. Presidencies of Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower shaped the political, social, economic and cultural agendas of the following decade. A period of conformism, conservatism and consumerism began and the American society changed drastically. The protagonist of the novel, Holden Caulfield, who delivers a story of his journey to the New York City, represents the rebellious character that emerged during this period. While looking for the roots of this type of personality it becomes obvious that the historical and philosophical background of the USA and the world in general plays a crucial role in the formation of such a hero. Peculiar political, economic, and scientific events that unfold during the first half of the 20th century affect his profile and turn him into a rebel against the established social order. Hence, analyzing the historical and philosophical context of the novel and the events revealing within the story, the article aims to clarify the effects of the zeitgeist on the character of the American hero and his rebellious identity.
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JAST, 2021
The objective of this article is to render several definitions of the concept of historical consc... more The objective of this article is to render several definitions of the concept of historical consciousness which, as a notion, is a relatively young concept since the early studies on this issue emerged during 1970s and the major breakthrough came at the beginning of the 21 st century. Hence, in the light of the recent studies on the nature and significance of this concept and the vanishing boundary between history and fiction within the postmodern context, the role of the historical novel in the establishment process of the historical consciousness became evident. In this respect, Don DeLillo's historical novel Underworld (1997) that covers almost fifty years of the United Sates, is selected in order to exemplify how a fictional text can contribute to the historical consciousness of its reader. By recreating the atmosphere of the Cold War period, the author presents a multilayered portrayal of the second half of the 20 th century with its political, cultural and social agenda.
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Conference Presentations by Olena Boylu
Among various attributions like novelist, war correspondent and journalist, Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) often felt uncomfortable with being remembered as yet another wife of Ernest Hemingway, whom she divorced after five years of marriage. The independent and assertive character of this woman was never bottled up by any man who entered her life. On the contrary, she managed to leave a trace in history as the only woman journalist who managed to witness D-Day in person, an incredible achievement for a woman in the middle of the 20th century. Furthermore, Gellhorn accomplished to cover almost every war during her extended career which brought her the title of the best war correspondent of the 20th century. Eventually she became a “moral true north for quite a lot of us” as her biographer Victoria Glendinning stated upon Martha's death. Among her numerous works there is one that remains relatively unknown and attracts the reader with its intimate style and incisive humor. Travels with Myself and Another: A Memoir (1978) covers a journey by the author to different locations around the world. Her peculiar style and observations as well as impressions provide a controversial perspective on the character of this extraordinary woman and the events that were unfolding around the world. Throughout this journey of Gellhorn and her unique insight into the environment of various places, the political climate as well as cultural atmosphere of the world would be traced and evaluated. In the 21st century, while women are still fighting for equality and justice, Martha Gellhorn stands out as a preeminent woman who managed to challenge the man’s world.
Keywords: Gellhorn, travel literature, politics, history, culture.
Thomas Pynchon, who is widely known for his intense and complicated works, in his fourth novel Vineland (1990) vigorously criticizes Ronald Reagan’s United States of America. As an imaginary town and county in Northern California, Vineland turns into a stage for a particular historical events and projects the authors perspective on the politics and society of the period. Pynchon’s deliberate choice of the title reminds a different geography that was discovered by Leif Erickson long before Columbus. A land of `milk and honey` this time appears in a different atmosphere of the 20th century with its political upheavals and social transformation. Moreover, settled in 1984 the novel also implies an Orwellian world that can be analyzed from several angels. Hence this paper aims to examine the landscape provided by the author as well as its role in the historical and political context of the novel.
Narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, American Pastoral provides a bunch of memories and historical events that provide a substantial evaluation of a particular period in American history. Through the characters of the novel and their experiences, Roth once more manages to create a historical image, that he ironically calls pastoral, looking at which the reader can question heroes’ as well as his or her own consciousness about the particular events that unfold in the past. As a complex and multilateral notion historical consciousness appears to be a significant concept that should be evaluated and explained in order to appreciate its impact on a human being and society in general. Thus analyzing the major historical traits within the novel and their connection and interactions with the main characters, this paper aims to evaluate the meaning, content and significance of the historical consciousness and memory in general thus drawing the attention to the heftiness of history as a whole.
Keywords: Philip Roth, American Pastoral, historical consciousness, memory, history
Physical and Mental Confinement in Russian-American Literature by Ayn Rand
The ideological pressure of a totalitarian regime that blossomed with the birth of a new government after the Russian Revolution in 1917 drained out the individualism, uniqueness and aesthetic senses of the individuals forcing them towards clichés and restrictions articulated by the dictatorship. A new kind of so-called freedom formulated for the society was profoundly imposed, a freedom within the borders. Those who preferred to cross the red lines had to endure harassment, intimidation and even detention in concentration camps or prisons, while the fortunate ones got their opportunity to decamp. The rest of the society was “existing” accordingly, working for the good of their government and community. This sociopolitical struggle lasted for decades on physical as well as mental levels and the frontline of it was represented by intellectuals, writers and philosophers. Several important authors expressed harsh criticism towards the system what caused imprisonment, deportation or even expatriation. Among them such Soviet dissidents like Alexandr Soljenitsin and Boris Pasternak are particularly well known names. Similarly, a Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, who migrated to the USA in 1926, became one of the prominent critics of this dictatorial order and its effect on the human psyche and life in general. Analyzing her Anthem and We The Living, which are known for their anti-totalitarian stance, will project the gravity and intensity of the external as well as internal crisis generated by the totalitarian regime and its burden for the humanity.
The first decade of the 21st century in the literary world was marked by another splash of the gothic genre that spreads its roots to the 18th century. Vampires, werewolves, angels and shape shifters became the trend characters which were consumed not only through novels but also via television series and Hollywood movies. Only Twilight series sold one hundred million copies in five years so it became impossible to ignore such social phenomenon. Concentrating on the American reader and culture this paper is going to analyze the possible changes in the society that could probably become the reasons for such a notion because if we would pass classical reasons like millennium fears and personal anxieties these gothic products may reflect much deeper fears that may lay in the base of the contemporary American public. Here it will be analyzed whether it is a Marxian image of the Capitalistic system as a vampire or Michael Moore’s “culture of fear” that according to this filmmaker is a common characteristic for the American society which is constantly under the pressure for national and personal security. Or maybe it is a kind of escapism from the real world that gradually turns to be difficult to cope with in the new century. So this challenge of the supernatural towards the human race may reflect not only the psychological state but also cultural and even political agendas of the country and explain some significant sociological facts.
Keywords: Gothic, revival, fear, culture, fiction.
From the beginning of its history the United States of America was different from any other country because of the “second chance” opportunity for the humankind to start from the beginning and build a better government and community than they left back in Europe. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were the main dynamos for the people to survive on the New Land but the most distinguished character of the nation was its continuous stimuli to move further (to West) and explore the new horizons. This physical movement, which established the base of the American identity, was finalized in 1893 when Frederick Jackson Turner in his speech “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” officially declared the closure of the frontier. However, this national dynamism remained and became the essential element of every sphere of American life. One of these spheres that expressed and reflected the culture and character of the nation no doubt, was (and still is) New York’s extraordinarily ambitious architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century the economic opportunities and such industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie with his “steel empire” let the country to continue its movement, this time vertically. In a short period of time New York became a huge metropolitan enhanced with the skyscrapers and bridges. Even nowadays “The Big Apple” continues to charm people with its architecture which represents not only the culture and national spirit but also the power of the country. For example, Empire State Building signifies the “capitalistic” America whereas Chrysler Building celebrated the “modern” America; many others like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge - the first longest suspension bridge in the world, the triangle shaped skyscraper Flatiron Building standing as a symbol of innovation stirred the imagination of generations of American writers and poets. In this paper the basic cultural and national significations of the New York City will be discussed in relation to its architectural masterpieces; and also the works of several poets and writers such as James Fennimore Cooper, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, E.L. Doctorow, Marianne Moore, Paul Auster who had already appreciated the architectural language of the city as a cultural expression will be explored and cited.
Papers by Olena Boylu
ways in which historical events can shape personal narratives. Hence the article seeks to disentangle the intricate connections between history, memory, and healing, offering a comprehensive exploration of Auster's
contribution to the understanding of the human predicament.
Among various attributions like novelist, war correspondent and journalist, Martha Gellhorn (1908-1998) often felt uncomfortable with being remembered as yet another wife of Ernest Hemingway, whom she divorced after five years of marriage. The independent and assertive character of this woman was never bottled up by any man who entered her life. On the contrary, she managed to leave a trace in history as the only woman journalist who managed to witness D-Day in person, an incredible achievement for a woman in the middle of the 20th century. Furthermore, Gellhorn accomplished to cover almost every war during her extended career which brought her the title of the best war correspondent of the 20th century. Eventually she became a “moral true north for quite a lot of us” as her biographer Victoria Glendinning stated upon Martha's death. Among her numerous works there is one that remains relatively unknown and attracts the reader with its intimate style and incisive humor. Travels with Myself and Another: A Memoir (1978) covers a journey by the author to different locations around the world. Her peculiar style and observations as well as impressions provide a controversial perspective on the character of this extraordinary woman and the events that were unfolding around the world. Throughout this journey of Gellhorn and her unique insight into the environment of various places, the political climate as well as cultural atmosphere of the world would be traced and evaluated. In the 21st century, while women are still fighting for equality and justice, Martha Gellhorn stands out as a preeminent woman who managed to challenge the man’s world.
Keywords: Gellhorn, travel literature, politics, history, culture.
Thomas Pynchon, who is widely known for his intense and complicated works, in his fourth novel Vineland (1990) vigorously criticizes Ronald Reagan’s United States of America. As an imaginary town and county in Northern California, Vineland turns into a stage for a particular historical events and projects the authors perspective on the politics and society of the period. Pynchon’s deliberate choice of the title reminds a different geography that was discovered by Leif Erickson long before Columbus. A land of `milk and honey` this time appears in a different atmosphere of the 20th century with its political upheavals and social transformation. Moreover, settled in 1984 the novel also implies an Orwellian world that can be analyzed from several angels. Hence this paper aims to examine the landscape provided by the author as well as its role in the historical and political context of the novel.
Narrated by Nathan Zuckerman, American Pastoral provides a bunch of memories and historical events that provide a substantial evaluation of a particular period in American history. Through the characters of the novel and their experiences, Roth once more manages to create a historical image, that he ironically calls pastoral, looking at which the reader can question heroes’ as well as his or her own consciousness about the particular events that unfold in the past. As a complex and multilateral notion historical consciousness appears to be a significant concept that should be evaluated and explained in order to appreciate its impact on a human being and society in general. Thus analyzing the major historical traits within the novel and their connection and interactions with the main characters, this paper aims to evaluate the meaning, content and significance of the historical consciousness and memory in general thus drawing the attention to the heftiness of history as a whole.
Keywords: Philip Roth, American Pastoral, historical consciousness, memory, history
Physical and Mental Confinement in Russian-American Literature by Ayn Rand
The ideological pressure of a totalitarian regime that blossomed with the birth of a new government after the Russian Revolution in 1917 drained out the individualism, uniqueness and aesthetic senses of the individuals forcing them towards clichés and restrictions articulated by the dictatorship. A new kind of so-called freedom formulated for the society was profoundly imposed, a freedom within the borders. Those who preferred to cross the red lines had to endure harassment, intimidation and even detention in concentration camps or prisons, while the fortunate ones got their opportunity to decamp. The rest of the society was “existing” accordingly, working for the good of their government and community. This sociopolitical struggle lasted for decades on physical as well as mental levels and the frontline of it was represented by intellectuals, writers and philosophers. Several important authors expressed harsh criticism towards the system what caused imprisonment, deportation or even expatriation. Among them such Soviet dissidents like Alexandr Soljenitsin and Boris Pasternak are particularly well known names. Similarly, a Russian-American writer and philosopher Ayn Rand, who migrated to the USA in 1926, became one of the prominent critics of this dictatorial order and its effect on the human psyche and life in general. Analyzing her Anthem and We The Living, which are known for their anti-totalitarian stance, will project the gravity and intensity of the external as well as internal crisis generated by the totalitarian regime and its burden for the humanity.
The first decade of the 21st century in the literary world was marked by another splash of the gothic genre that spreads its roots to the 18th century. Vampires, werewolves, angels and shape shifters became the trend characters which were consumed not only through novels but also via television series and Hollywood movies. Only Twilight series sold one hundred million copies in five years so it became impossible to ignore such social phenomenon. Concentrating on the American reader and culture this paper is going to analyze the possible changes in the society that could probably become the reasons for such a notion because if we would pass classical reasons like millennium fears and personal anxieties these gothic products may reflect much deeper fears that may lay in the base of the contemporary American public. Here it will be analyzed whether it is a Marxian image of the Capitalistic system as a vampire or Michael Moore’s “culture of fear” that according to this filmmaker is a common characteristic for the American society which is constantly under the pressure for national and personal security. Or maybe it is a kind of escapism from the real world that gradually turns to be difficult to cope with in the new century. So this challenge of the supernatural towards the human race may reflect not only the psychological state but also cultural and even political agendas of the country and explain some significant sociological facts.
Keywords: Gothic, revival, fear, culture, fiction.
From the beginning of its history the United States of America was different from any other country because of the “second chance” opportunity for the humankind to start from the beginning and build a better government and community than they left back in Europe. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were the main dynamos for the people to survive on the New Land but the most distinguished character of the nation was its continuous stimuli to move further (to West) and explore the new horizons. This physical movement, which established the base of the American identity, was finalized in 1893 when Frederick Jackson Turner in his speech “The Significance of the Frontier in American History” officially declared the closure of the frontier. However, this national dynamism remained and became the essential element of every sphere of American life. One of these spheres that expressed and reflected the culture and character of the nation no doubt, was (and still is) New York’s extraordinarily ambitious architecture. At the beginning of the 20th century the economic opportunities and such industrial giants like Andrew Carnegie with his “steel empire” let the country to continue its movement, this time vertically. In a short period of time New York became a huge metropolitan enhanced with the skyscrapers and bridges. Even nowadays “The Big Apple” continues to charm people with its architecture which represents not only the culture and national spirit but also the power of the country. For example, Empire State Building signifies the “capitalistic” America whereas Chrysler Building celebrated the “modern” America; many others like the iconic Brooklyn Bridge - the first longest suspension bridge in the world, the triangle shaped skyscraper Flatiron Building standing as a symbol of innovation stirred the imagination of generations of American writers and poets. In this paper the basic cultural and national significations of the New York City will be discussed in relation to its architectural masterpieces; and also the works of several poets and writers such as James Fennimore Cooper, Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, E.L. Doctorow, Marianne Moore, Paul Auster who had already appreciated the architectural language of the city as a cultural expression will be explored and cited.
ways in which historical events can shape personal narratives. Hence the article seeks to disentangle the intricate connections between history, memory, and healing, offering a comprehensive exploration of Auster's
contribution to the understanding of the human predicament.