C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions
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The Ohio State University / OhioLINK
2013
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374156416 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-osu13741564162021-08-03T06:18:40Z C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions Gegas, Christos Ioannis Comparative Literature Cavafy poetry homoerotics Formalism Barthes Sedgwick Foucault Fish Hirsch Richards translation studies limits sexual idendity In this thesis, I will explore the relationship between C.P. Cavafy's (1863-1933) life and his erotic poetry. Specifically, I will consider how Cavafy's sexuality is (re)constructed by and through his poetry as well as criticism and the role that secondary sources and ancillary texts play in this construction. Why do some critics read Cavafy's erotic poetry as gay, while others resist such readings and admit to only a few poems being gay? What different reading strategies does either group employ to reach their conclusions? Is resistance to characterizing his poetry as homoerotic merely a sign of anxiety over the queering of Cavafy's oeuvre and is this a sign of masked homophobia? Or are there justifiable objections to such characterizations? Are ethical readings that read his erotic poetry as queer over-determined? What role do interpretive communities play in substantiating either side of this debate? Since Cavafy wrote in Modern Greek, what structural differences lay between the original language and works translated into English and how do those differences arise?To answer some of the questions, I will use close-reading techniques of Cavafy's erotic poetry, both in the original Modern Greek as well as English. I will attempt to resuscitate defunct or even unfashionable theories of literature in my assessment (especially Formalist ones), showing how some still prove useful and productive in reading and analyzing his poetry. I will also survey Cavafian criticism and try to unpack the assumptions that underlie either conclusion. To accomplish this, I will introduce the notions of feedback and estrangement to try to explain some of these complications. I will also consider the role that pleasure plays in his poems. Finally, I will suggest that Cavafy's ambiguous use of language, coding, and production methods surpassed mere self-censorship and at the same time served to secure his position in an emerging canon. 2013-10-02 English text The Ohio State University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374156416 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374156416 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. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Comparative Literature Cavafy poetry homoerotics Formalism Barthes Sedgwick Foucault Fish Hirsch Richards translation studies limits sexual idendity |
| spellingShingle |
Comparative Literature Cavafy poetry homoerotics Formalism Barthes Sedgwick Foucault Fish Hirsch Richards translation studies limits sexual idendity Gegas, Christos Ioannis C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| author |
Gegas, Christos Ioannis |
| author_facet |
Gegas, Christos Ioannis |
| author_sort |
Gegas, Christos Ioannis |
| title |
C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| title_short |
C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| title_full |
C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| title_fullStr |
C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| title_full_unstemmed |
C.P. Cavafy: (Homo)Erotics and (Re)Constructions |
| title_sort |
c.p. cavafy: (homo)erotics and (re)constructions |
| publisher |
The Ohio State University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1374156416 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT gegaschristosioannis cpcavafyhomoeroticsandreconstructions |
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