Désamour et désarroi dans la littérature contemporaine
Date
2015-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Description
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This study aims to describe the ways in which society, ruled by an excess of freedom and a fervent pursuit of individual wellbeing, undermines relationships to such an extent that couples no longer manage to find the equilibrium required to engage in a lasting love relationship. Two French novels of the extreme contemporary were selected for the development of our research project entitled “Désamour et désarroi dans la literature contemporaine” (The End of Love and Disarray in Contemporary Literature): La Jouissance (Florian Zeller, 2012) and, Faire l’amour (Jean-Philippe Toussaint, 2002). These novels propose an elucidatory interpretation of the different stages of love, from its beginning to its disintegration, which is presented as inevitable. We ask the following questions: How does love end? How does sexuality relate to love? What is sexuality in the twenty-first century? When and why does the end of love occur? Can the end of love be seen as inevitable in contemporary society? How does the modern couple deal with excessive individualism and self-promotion in an entrepreneurial society? These questions are developed in the light of a number of books that investigate love in the twenty-first century, including: Le choc amoureux (1999) by Francesco Alberoni, Les révolutions de l’amour (2014) by Blandine Pénicaud et Vincent Vidal-Naquet, L’Intime-L’Extime (2002) by Aline Mura-Brunel and Franc Schuerewegen, La sagesse de l’amour (1984) by Alain Finkielkraut. This study is thus situated at the intersection of literature and other disciplines such as sociology and philosophy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die doel van hierdie studie is om te beskryf hoe die samelewing waarin daar ʼn oormaat van vryheid heers tesame met ʼn oordrewe soeke na individuele welwees lei tot verhoudingsprobleme in so ʼn mate dat mense dit moeilik vind om hulleself te verbind tot langtermyn verhoudings. Twee romans uit eietydse Franse letterkunde (“l’extrême contemporain”) is gekies om die vraagstuk te ondersoek in hierdie tesis waarvan die titel “Désamour et désarroi dans la littérature contemporaine” (Wanliefde en wanorde in eietydse letterkunde) is. La Jouissance (Florian Zeller, 2012) en Faire l’amour (Jean-Philippe Toussaint, 2002) bevat ʼn insiggewende ontleding van die verskillende stadiums van die liefde, van sy begin tot sy einde – wat voorgestel word as onvermydelik. Ons vra die volgende vrae : Hoe ontstaan die “wanliefde”? Wat is die verhouding tussen seksualiteit en liefde? Wat behels seksualiteit in die 21ste eeu? Wanneer en waarom ontstaan “wanliefde” tussen twee mense? Is “wanliefde” ʼn noodwendige gevolg van eietydse waardes? Hoe hanteer mense in ʼn verhouding die oordrewe individualisme en die selfbemarking wat individue in entrepreneurs omskep? Hierdie vrae word gestel in die lig van ʼn aantal werke wat handel oor die liefde in die 21ste eeu, onder andere, Le Choc amoureux (1999) deur Francesco Alberoni, Les révolutions de l'amour (2014) deur Blandine Pénicaud et Vincent Vidal-Naquet, L’Intime-L’Extime (2002) deur Aline Mura-Brunel en Franc Schuerewegen en La sagesse de l’amour (1984) deur Alain Finkielkraut. Op hierdie wyse is lê die ondersoek op die snypunt van letterkunde en ander dissiplines soos sosiologie en filosofie.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This study aims to describe the ways in which society, ruled by an excess of freedom and a fervent pursuit of individual wellbeing, undermines relationships to such an extent that couples no longer manage to find the equilibrium required to engage in a lasting love relationship. Two French novels of the extreme contemporary were selected for the development of our research project entitled “Désamour et désarroi dans la literature contemporaine” (The End of Love and Disarray in Contemporary Literature): La Jouissance (Florian Zeller, 2012) and, Faire l’amour (Jean-Philippe Toussaint, 2002). These novels propose an elucidatory interpretation of the different stages of love, from its beginning to its disintegration, which is presented as inevitable. We ask the following questions: How does love end? How does sexuality relate to love? What is sexuality in the twenty-first century? When and why does the end of love occur? Can the end of love be seen as inevitable in contemporary society? How does the modern couple deal with excessive individualism and self-promotion in an entrepreneurial society? These questions are developed in the light of a number of books that investigate love in the twenty-first century, including: Le choc amoureux (1999) by Francesco Alberoni, Les révolutions de l’amour (2014) by Blandine Pénicaud et Vincent Vidal-Naquet, L’Intime-L’Extime (2002) by Aline Mura-Brunel and Franc Schuerewegen, La sagesse de l’amour (1984) by Alain Finkielkraut. This study is thus situated at the intersection of literature and other disciplines such as sociology and philosophy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Die doel van hierdie studie is om te beskryf hoe die samelewing waarin daar ʼn oormaat van vryheid heers tesame met ʼn oordrewe soeke na individuele welwees lei tot verhoudingsprobleme in so ʼn mate dat mense dit moeilik vind om hulleself te verbind tot langtermyn verhoudings. Twee romans uit eietydse Franse letterkunde (“l’extrême contemporain”) is gekies om die vraagstuk te ondersoek in hierdie tesis waarvan die titel “Désamour et désarroi dans la littérature contemporaine” (Wanliefde en wanorde in eietydse letterkunde) is. La Jouissance (Florian Zeller, 2012) en Faire l’amour (Jean-Philippe Toussaint, 2002) bevat ʼn insiggewende ontleding van die verskillende stadiums van die liefde, van sy begin tot sy einde – wat voorgestel word as onvermydelik. Ons vra die volgende vrae : Hoe ontstaan die “wanliefde”? Wat is die verhouding tussen seksualiteit en liefde? Wat behels seksualiteit in die 21ste eeu? Wanneer en waarom ontstaan “wanliefde” tussen twee mense? Is “wanliefde” ʼn noodwendige gevolg van eietydse waardes? Hoe hanteer mense in ʼn verhouding die oordrewe individualisme en die selfbemarking wat individue in entrepreneurs omskep? Hierdie vrae word gestel in die lig van ʼn aantal werke wat handel oor die liefde in die 21ste eeu, onder andere, Le Choc amoureux (1999) deur Francesco Alberoni, Les révolutions de l'amour (2014) deur Blandine Pénicaud et Vincent Vidal-Naquet, L’Intime-L’Extime (2002) deur Aline Mura-Brunel en Franc Schuerewegen en La sagesse de l’amour (1984) deur Alain Finkielkraut. Op hierdie wyse is lê die ondersoek op die snypunt van letterkunde en ander dissiplines soos sosiologie en filosofie.
Keywords
French novels -- 21st century, French literature -- 21st century -- History and criticism, Literature and society -- 21st century, Man-woman relationships in literature -- 21st century, Liberty in literature -- 21st century, Love in literature -- 21st century, Relationship quality -- 21st century, UCTD