Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Vimr, Kallisto J.
Language:English
Published: Cleveland State University / OhioLINK 2009
Subjects:
Online Access:http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1244663777
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spelling ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-csu12446637772021-08-03T05:35:01Z Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i> Vimr, Kallisto J. American Literature Literature Charles Bukowski Notes of a Dirty Old Man Genre Gender 1960's Fiction Journalism <p>Charles Bukowski’s <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i> is a genre-blurring, gender-blending “start” to the perpetual “work-in-progress” that constitutes his oeuvre. Bukowski’s genre heterogeneity provides a literal shape-shifting that allows the Bukowski-character to experiment with his a fluid, indeterminate subjectivity, helping unravel the tight myth that binds him as a “dirty old man.”</p><p>Examining one of the vignettes in the book, the column recounting Bukowski meeting Neal Cassady, showcases Bukowski’s engagement with autobiography and creative nonfiction in order to respond to constructions of verisimilitude; this is inextricably linked to other organized constructions Bukowski must work in—or out from—namely the hierarchy of gender and masculinities. The questions and constructions of realistic genres illuminate the overtly created fictions of social norms. This highlights something often overlooked in the scholarly criticism; that is, Bukowski’s explicit creation—his overt invention—of what others seem to assume is simply his natural, “direct and honest” style. Bukowski’s commentary on gender, especially within the reprinted letters in Notes, ties to Bukowski’s generic choices. Like economics and class, genre and gender are not (re)produced in an expected or hierarchical fashion in Bukowski’s work, and Notes is one of many examples of the rhizomatic nature of Bukowski’s commentary on literary and social organizations. For Bukowski, these realms are intricately related.</p> 2009-06-16 English text Cleveland State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1244663777 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1244663777 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
topic American Literature
Literature
Charles Bukowski
Notes of a Dirty Old Man
Genre
Gender
1960's
Fiction
Journalism
spellingShingle American Literature
Literature
Charles Bukowski
Notes of a Dirty Old Man
Genre
Gender
1960's
Fiction
Journalism
Vimr, Kallisto J.
Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
author Vimr, Kallisto J.
author_facet Vimr, Kallisto J.
author_sort Vimr, Kallisto J.
title Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
title_short Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
title_full Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
title_fullStr Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
title_full_unstemmed Genre and Gender in Charles Bukowski's <i>Notes of a Dirty Old Man</i>
title_sort genre and gender in charles bukowski's <i>notes of a dirty old man</i>
publisher Cleveland State University / OhioLINK
publishDate 2009
url http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1244663777
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