Joie de Vivre in French Literature and Culture

Joie de Vivre in French Literature and Culture
Author: Susan Harrow
Publisher: Rodopi
Total Pages: 321
Release: 2009
Genre: Art
ISBN: 9042025794

The apparent self-sufficiency of joie de vivre means that, despite the widespread use of the phrase since the late nineteenth century, the concept has rarely been explored critically. Joie de vivre does not readily surrender itself to examination, for it is in a sense too busy being what it is. However, as the essays in this collection reveal, joie de vivre can be as complex and variable a state as the more negative emotions or experiences that art and literature habitually evoke. This volume provides an urgently needed study of an intriguing and under-explored area of French literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. While the range and content of contributions embraces linguistics, literature, art, sport and politics, the starting point is, like that of the term joie de vivre itself, in French language and culture. This volume will be of special interest to researchers across the full range of French studies, from literature and language to cultural studies. It will be of direct appeal to specialist readers, university libraries, graduate and undergraduate students, and general readers with a lively interest in French literature and culture of the medieval, early modern and broad modern periods. This book's fresh perspectives on the theme of joie de vivre and its relation to questions of privacy, contemplation, voyeurism, feasting and nationhood will also be of relevance to researchers in comparative and cognate disciplines.

Joie de Vivre in French Literature and Culture

Joie de Vivre in French Literature and Culture
Author: Susan Harrow
Publisher: Editions Rodopi
Total Pages: 319
Release: 2009
Genre: France
ISBN: 9781441616937

The apparent self-sufficiency of "joie de vivre" means that, despite the widespread use of the phrase since the late nineteenth century, the concept has rarely been explored critically. "Joie de vivre "does not readily surrender itself to examination, for it is in a sense too busy being what it is. However, as the essays in this collection reveal, "joie de vivre" can be as complex and variable a state as the more negative emotions or experiences that art and literature habitually evoke. This volume provides an urgently needed study of an intriguing and under-explored area of French literature and culture from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. While the range and content of contributions embraces linguistics, literature, art, sport and politics, the starting point is, like that of the term "joie de vivre "itself, in French language and culture.

Translating Happiness

Translating Happiness
Author: Tim Lomas
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 241
Release: 2019-02-26
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0262537087

How embracing untranslatable terms for well-being—from the Finnish sisu to the Yiddish mensch—can enrich our emotional understanding and experience. Western psychology is rooted in the philosophies and epistemologies of Western culture. But what of concepts and insights from outside this frame of reference? Certain terms not easily translatable into English—for example, nirvāṇa (from Sanskrit), or agápē (from Classical Greek), or turangawaewae (from Māori)—are rich with meaning but largely unavailable to English-speaking students and seekers of wellbeing. In this book, Tim Lomas argues that engaging with “untranslatable” terms related to well-being can enrich not only our understanding but also our experience. We can use these words, Lomas suggests, to understand and express feelings and experiences that were previously inexpressible. Lomas examines 400 words from 80 languages, arranges them thematically, and develops a theoretical framework that highlights the varied dimensions of well-being and traces the connections between them. He identifies three basic dimensions of well-being—feelings, relationships, and personal development—and then explores each in turn through untranslatable words. Ânanda, for example, usually translated as bliss, can have spiritual associations in Buddhist and Hindu contexts; kefi in Greek expresses an intense emotional state—often made more intense by alcohol. The Japanese concept of koi no yokan means a premonition or presentiment of love, capturing the elusive and vertiginous feeling of being about to fall for someone, imbued with melancholy and uncertainty; the Yiddish term mensch has been borrowed from its Judaic and religious connotations to describe an all-around good human being; and Finnish offers sisu—inner determination in the face of adversity. Expanding the lexicon of well-being in this way showcases the richness of cultural diversity while reminding us powerfully of our common humanity. Lomas's website, www.drtimlomas.com/lexicography, allows interested readers to contribute their own words and interpretations.

Lydia, a Poem from the Appendix Vergiliana

Lydia, a Poem from the Appendix Vergiliana
Author: Kayachev
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 180
Release: 2024-02-28
Genre: Poetry
ISBN: 0192874519

This volume offers the first comprehensive literary and philological commentary on the Lydia, in any language. At its core is a freshly edited Latin text of the poem, which systematically reconsiders the paradosis as well as earlier textual scholarship and endorses numerous improvements against current editions. Besides scrutinizing all the textual problems and adopted solutions, the commentary provides a thorough linguistic exegesis of the text as well as a wide-ranging discussion of the poem's rich intertextuality, both Latin and Greek. The Lydia's literary side is also the main focus in the introduction, which challenges the established communis opinio that views the Lydia as a dateless anonymous imitation of Virgilian bucolic, by situating it in the literary context of the Late Republic: it highlights, for the first time, the centrality of Greek bucolic, in particular of Bion's Lament for Adonis and the anonymous Lament for Bion, in the Lydia's literary genealogy and tentatively revives the old attribution to Valerius Cato, as well as exploring the poem's relationship with its better-known sibling, the Dirae. The work is complete with an English translation, aimed to serve as a guide to the Latin text for readers without a solid background in the ancient language.

The Art of the Text

The Art of the Text
Author: Susan R Harrow
Publisher: University of Wales Press
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2013-09-15
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1783165790

The Art of the Text contributes to the fast-developing dialogue between textual studies and visual culture studies. It focuses on the processes through which writers think and readers respond visually and, in essays by researchers in literature, screen and visual studies, the volume explores the visuality of the literary and non-literary text, with a sustained focus on French material of the later nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Visuality is appraised here not as a state, but as a set of processes of adaptation, resistance, negotiation, and transformation. By reading visually, the contributors here reactivate the visual-textual relations of canonical texts – from Romanticism to Naturalism, Surrealism to high Modernism; from film to fan literature, television to picture language.

The French Art of Living Well

The French Art of Living Well
Author: Cathy Yandell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Total Pages: 126
Release: 2023-05-23
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1250777992

In the tradition of Bringing up Bebe and French Toast, Cathy Yandell's The French Art of Living Well is a delightful look at French culture, from literature to cuisine to humor and more, showing how the French have captured that magic elixir known as joie de vivre. What is joie de vivre, and why is it a fundamentally French concept? In search of those ineffable qualities that make up the joy of living, this lively book takes readers on a voyage to France through forays into literature, history, and culture. How does art contribute to daily life? Why is cuisine such a central part of French existence? Why are the French more physical than many other cultures? How do French attitudes toward time speak volumes about their sense of pleasure and celebration? And finally, to what extent is this zest for life exportable? These and other questions give way to a dynamic sketch of French life today. Peppered with anecdotes and humor, this book uncovers some of the secrets of the celebrated French art of living well. Drawing from her years of living in France as a student, professor, and mother, Yandell crafts an honest and profound appraisal of French culture and how la joie de vivre can be developed in anyone’s life.

Mysticism in the French Tradition

Mysticism in the French Tradition
Author: Louise Nelstrop
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 314
Release: 2016-03-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1317090918

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries secular French scholars started re-engaging with religious ideas, particularly mystical ones. Mysticism in the French Tradition introduces key philosophical undercurrents and trajectories in French thought that underpin and arise from this engagement, as well as considering earlier French contributions to the development of mysticism. Filling a gap in the literature, the book offers critical reflections on French scholarship in terms of its engagement with its mystical and apophatic dimensions. A multiplicity of factors converge to shape these encounters with mystical theology: feminist, devotional and philosophical treatments as well as literary, historical, and artistic approaches. The essays draw these into conversation. Bringing together an international and interdisciplinary range of contributions from both new and established scholars, this book provides access to the melting pot out of which the mystical tradition in France erupted in the twenty-first century, and from which it continues to challenge theology today.

The Bright Side of Life

The Bright Side of Life
Author: Émile Zola
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 369
Release: 2018-07-19
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0191068047

'Neither spoke another word, they were gripped by a shared, unthinking madness as they plunged headlong together into vertiginous rapture.' Orphaned with a substantial inheritance at the age of ten, Pauline Quenu is taken from Paris to live with her relatives, Monsieur and Madame Chanteau and their son Lazare, in the village of Bonneville on the wild Normandy coast. Her presence enlivens the household and Pauline is the only one who can ease Chanteau's gout-ridden agony. Her love of life contrasts with the insularity and pessimism that infects the family, especially Lazare, for whom she develops a devoted passion. Gradually Madame Chanteau starts to take advantage of Pauline's generous nature, and jealousy and resentment threaten to blight all their lives. The arrival of a pretty family friend, Louise, brings tensions to a head. The twelfth novel in the Rougon Macquart series, The Bright Side of Life is remarkable for its depiction of intense emotions and physical and mental suffering. The precarious location of Bonneville and the changing moods of the sea mirror the turbulent relations of the characters, and as the story unfolds its title comes to seem ever more ironic.

Easy English to French Learning

Easy English to French Learning
Author: Amrahs Hseham
Publisher: Mahesh Dutt Sharma
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2024-02-13
Genre: Education
ISBN:

Embark on an exciting journey into the enchanting world of French language and culture with "Easy English to French Learning"! Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your language skills, this comprehensive guide is your ticket to mastering French with ease. • Unlock the mysteries of French pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary through our user-friendly approach designed for learners of all levels. From basic greetings to advanced conversation topics, each chapter is carefully crafted to build your confidence and fluency in French. • Dive into the vibrant tapestry of French culture as you explore fascinating insights into cuisine, traditions, and everyday life. Immerse yourself in the language through interactive exercises, practical tips, and real-life scenarios, making learning French both engaging and enjoyable. Discover the secrets to effective communication as you practice speaking and listening skills with our immersive activities and exercises. Whether you're ordering croissants at a café in Paris or navigating the bustling streets of Marseille, you'll be ready to converse with confidence and finesse. With "Easy English to French Learning," the journey to fluency is as exciting as the destination. So, grab your copy today and embark on a transformative adventure that will open doors to new experiences, friendships, and opportunities in the captivating world of the French language and culture. Vive la langue française!

Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, and the Place of Culture

Edith Wharton, Willa Cather, and the Place of Culture
Author: Julie Olin-Ammentorp
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 517
Release: 2019-10-01
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1496216881

Edith Wharton and Willa Cather wrote many of the most enduring American novels from the first half of the twentieth century, including Wharton's The House of Mirth, Ethan Frome, and The Age of Innocence, and Cather's O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and Death Comes for the Archbishop. Yet despite their perennial popularity and their status as major American novelists, Wharton (1862-1937) and Cather (1873-1947) have rarely been studied together. Indeed, critics and scholars seem to have conspired to keep them at a distance: Wharton is seen as "our literary aristocrat," an author who chronicles the lives of the East Coast, Europe-bound elite, while Cather is considered a prairie populist who describes the lives of rugged western pioneers. These depictions, though partially valid, nonetheless rely on oversimplifications and neglect the striking and important ways the works of these two authors intersect. The first comparative study of Edith Wharton and Willa Cather in thirty years, this book combines biographical, historical, and literary analyses with a focus on place and aesthetics to reveal Wharton's and Cather's parallel experiences of dislocation, their relationship to each other as writers, and the profound similarities in their theories of fiction. Julie Olin-Ammentorp provides a new assessment of the affinities between Wharton and Cather by exploring the importance of literary and geographic place in their lives and works, including the role of New York City, the American West, France, and travel. In doing so she reveals the two authors' shared concern about the culture of place and the place of culture in the United States.