Modern satiric grotesque and its traditions

223 Pages·2014·21.516 MB·English

by  Clark, John R

The Modern
Satiric Grotesque
And Its Traditions
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The Modern
Satiric Grotesque
And Its Traditions
JOHN R. CLARK
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Copyright © 1991 by The University Press ofKentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine College, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Club, Georgetown College, Kentucky
Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and·Western Kentucky University.
Editorial and Sales Offices: Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clark, John R., 1930-
The modern satiric grotesque and its traditions/John R. Clark.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical referencesand index.
ISBN: 978-0-8131-5619-4
1. Grotesque in literature. 2~ Satire-Historyand criticism.
I. Title.
PN56.G7C57 1991
809.7-dc20 90-27474
This book is printed on acid-free paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials.@
Contents
Preface vii
Introduction 1Index
Part I. Dark Comedy 7
1. Deadly Laughter 9
2. Satiric Gothic, Satiric Grotesque 17
Part II. Stratagems 27
3. Degrading the Hero 29
4. Debunking the Author 36
5. Dislocating the Language 51
6. Gaming with the Plot 67
7. Further Intrusion and Obstruction 77
8. Discordant Endings 83
9. Infernal Repetition 90
Part III. Themes 103
10. Ennui 105
11. Scatology 116
12. Cannibals 131
13. Dystopias and Machines 139
14. Entropy and Armageddon 148
Part IV. Conclusion 157
15. The Death of the Humanities 159
Notes 165
Index 203
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Preface
The intention of this study is to define and illustrate the major tactics
and topics deployed by much modern literary "dark" humor. There
can be no doubt that, in our era, the themes and modes of our comic
literature (and our other literature as well) are usually no laughing
matter. The subjects are frightful and ugly, the methods of presenta
tion disruptive; such creations patently seek to foster dis-ease. Never
theless, this study will argue that critics complaining about our fierce
satiric literature because it is dank, cheerless, or unpleasant, naysay
ing or negative, are too simplistic and prescriptive. Great literature
must flower as best it can, choosing whatever myths and means it can
best nurture and develop. All such writing, if vigorous, controlled,
and imaginative, is definitely creative and thereby affirmative.
Furthermore, as this study attempts to show, all of the strategies,
tones, and materials of this extremist literature have been assimilated
from a long and spirited usage. Such creations are firmly established
in a lasting tradition. Hence it would only be sensible to comprehend
and appreciate our comedic literature-whetherit be dark or light-in
this larger context.
I wish to thank the editors of several journals for granting me permis
sion to reprint material here that previously appeared in somewhat
different form in the pages of their periodicals: "The Human Use of
Inhuman Beings," Humanities in the South 45 (1977): 7-9; "Funny Bones:
The Deadly Laughter of the Grotesque," Thalia 9 (1987): 24-31; "Mod
ern Gothic: The Satiric,Grotesque," Studies in Contemporary Satire 13
(1986): 5-15; "Cynical Hercules and the Contemporary Hero," Classical
Bulletin 57 (1981): 65-69; "Neglected Authors: The Martyrs and Relics of
Satire," Studies in Contemporary Satire 12 (1985): 6-21; "Chafing Dish:
Satire's Adulteration of Language and Style," Thalia 5 (1982): 14-26;
"Gaming in Modern Literature: Some Causes and Effects," Modernist
Studies 4 (1982): 146-59; "Intrusion, Obstruction, and the Self-Reflexive
Narrator in So-Called Post-Modern Literature," Classical and Modern
viii Preface
Literature 7 (1986): 31-37 (reprinted by permission of CML, Inc.); "The
Senselessness of an Ending: Comic Intrusions upon the 'Higher Seri
ousness,'" West Virginia University Philological Papers 29 (1983): 1-7;
" 'Pangs without Birth, and Fruitless Industry': Redundancy in Sat
ire," Centennial Review 26 (1982): 239-55; " 'Bored Out of My Gourd':
The Progress of Modern Exhaustion," West Virginia University Philolog
ical Papers 28 (1982): 1-15; "Bowl Games: Satire in the Toilet," Modern
Language Studies 4 (1974): 43-53; "The Progress of Cannibalism in Sat
ire," Midwest Quarterly 25 (1984): 174-86; "The Machine Prevails: A
Modern Technological Theme," Journal ofPopular Culture 12 (1978): 118
26; "Running Down and Dropping Out: Entropy in Modern Litera
ture," Studies in Contemporary Satire 10 (1983): 9-22; "The Death of the
Humanities and Other Recent Atrocities," Humanities in the South 52
(1980): 1-4.
I also wish to acknowledge Professor Priscilla VanZandt of the
University of North Florida, who worked with me on chapter 4. My
deepest gratitude goes to Dr. Anna Lydia Motto, my wife, who as
sisted me in the research, the writing, and the revision of some of
these chapters.
The Modern
Satiric Grotesque
And Its Traditions