Myth of Writing: Literature in Western Culture

Author: Geng Youzhuang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In the Western literary tradition, perhaps no work has had such a profound influence as Oedipus Rex. Moreover, the interpretations surrounding this work have extended beyond the general scope of literary criticism, becoming a cultural quest for Westerners to continuously seek and understand themselves. As Segal has said, "The story of Oedipus is not only regarded as a myth of Western individual identity but also as a myth of Western cultural identity." [Barthes believes] it is precisely through writing that the author gives language a dual function. Choosing a writing style is to endorse a series of conventional literary conventions, while also affirming a certain way of social life and values. For Deleuze, it is through this that we are able to continue living with unbearable life. As a way of life, it means placing your life within your thinking. This is the aesthetic way of existence created by the ancient Greeks. In other words, unless we make existence a "way" and an "art," we will be unable to avoid madness and death. This book is the result of the author's reflections on Western literature and cultural theory. The collected essays cover a wide range of topics, ranging from classic Western literature to contemporary social theory, but all revolve around a central theme: understanding the historical development and intrinsic spirit of Western thought as a whole. The author believes that whether it is ancient Greek tragedy, modern literary theory, the ancient Bible, or postmodern cultural theology, they are all poems of thought, none of which fail to continue the ancient debate between philosophy and poetry in the history of Western thought.