Infinitely Determinable - Children and Childhood in Modern Literature

Bourgeois culture and modern literature created a space for projections of the contradictory and diverse ideological purposes of childhood, which is essentially blank and indefinite, allowing for the unsettling and alienating nature of the child to be exposed.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 18 May 2021
Publisher: Diaphanes AG

Upon the "discovery of childhood," as coined by Philippe Ariès, bourgeois culture and modern literature carved out an enigmatic realm that, while scarcely accessible to adults, served as a conduit for the projection of the most contradictory and diverse ideological purposes: childhood. As this book unfolds, from the eighteenth century onwards, the child gradually emerged as a mysterious creature in literature. Presently, the child appears as an enigmatic entity, perpetually unsettling and alienating, despite being subjected to ongoing territorialization. This is feasible due to the inherent blankness and indeterminacy of the space referred to as "childhood." Consequently, modernity has perceived it as a zone, as famously articulated by Friedrich Schiller, characterized by "boundless determinability."

The concept of childhood, as perceived by the bourgeoisie and modern literature, emerged as a distinct realm, accessible only to a limited segment of the population. However, it served as a fertile ground for the projection of diverse ideological purposes. As this book reveals, from the eighteenth century onwards, the child gradually gained prominence in literature as a mysterious entity. Today, the child is perceived as an enigmatic being, perpetually unsettling and alienating, despite being subjected to ongoing territorialization. This is possible due to the inherent blankness and indeterminacy of the space referred to as "childhood." Consequently, modernity has perceived it as a zone, as famously articulated by Friedrich Schiller, characterized by "boundless determinability."

The discovery of childhood, as coined by Philippe Ariès, marked a significant shift in cultural and literary perspectives. It carved out an enigmatic realm that, while scarcely accessible to adults, served as a conduit for the projection of diverse ideological purposes. From the eighteenth century onwards, the child gradually emerged as a mysterious creature in literature, perpetually unsettling and alienating, despite being subjected to ongoing territorialization. This is possible due to the inherent blankness and indeterminacy of the space referred to as "childhood." Consequently, modernity has perceived it as a zone, as famously articulated by Friedrich Schiller, characterized by "boundless determinability."

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 118 x 190 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783035803167