Human Body as a Subject to Violence in American Transgressive Fiction

Bc. Miloš ROUZEK

Master's thesis

Abstract:

In this thesis, I focus on American transgressive fiction of the second half of the 20th century from which I selected three novels, namely: Nova Express, American Psycho, and Fight Club. After establishing a theoretical framework based on Michel Foucault's theories of discourse and transgression, further developed by Chris Jenks, I define the genre of transgressive fiction with its characteristic features and themes. While employing concepts of the carnivalesque, grotesque, and Robin Mookerjee's theory of the mock-epic, I then link themes of human body and violence to the tradition of transgressive fiction. Using the method of categorizing literary attacks by Kathryn Hume and reading transgressive elements in the texts as a critical examination of dominant ideologies and systems from the extra-textual context, as proposed by Coco d'Hont, I further analyze the role of body imagery and violent acts portrayed in the selected novels. I focus primarily on the relation between the nature of violence performed on human bodies and the ideological, political, or social practices operating in the depicted environment.

Abstract:

In this thesis, I focus on American transgressive fiction of the second half of the 20th century from which I selected three novels, namely: Nova Express, American Psycho, and Fight Club. After establishing a theoretical framework based on Michel Foucault's theories of discourse and transgression, further developed by Chris Jenks, I define the genre of transgressive fiction with its characteristic features and themes. While employing concepts of the carnivalesque, grotesque, and Robin Mookerjee's theory of the mock-epic, I then link themes of human body and violence to the tradition of transgressive fiction. Using the method of categorizing literary attacks by Kathryn Hume and reading transgressive elements in the texts as a critical examination of dominant ideologies and systems from the extra-textual context, as proposed by Coco d'Hont, I further analyze the role of body imagery and violent acts portrayed in the selected novels. I focus primarily on the relation between the nature of violence performed on human bodies and the ideological, political, or social practices operating in the depicted environment.

Keywords

transgression, transgressive fiction, carnivalesque, violence, corporeality, human body, Nova Express, American Psycho, Fight Club

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 10. 5. 2023

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: prof. PhDr. Michal Peprník, Dr.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
English Philology / English Philology / The History of Art and the Theory of Art