Truth from a lie : documentary, detection, and reflexivity in Abe Kobo’s realist project

207 Pages·2011·11.154 MB·English

by  Abe, Kōbō, Key, Margaret S.

Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Noteto the Reader ix
Introduction
Chapter 1:Investigatingthe "ConcreteThings"ofReality 7
Chapter2: Blurringthe Boundarybetweenthe Fictionaland
the Real: Ishi no meand "likenno haikei" 35
Chapter3: TrueLies and DramatizedFacts: Mokugekisha and
Mihitsu nokoi 75
Chapter4: Memoir, Murder, and the MetafictionalAesthetic in
Taninnokao 125
Chapter5:RethinkingAbe: ObjectivityasEpistemology, Ethics,
and Art 167
Bibliography 175
Index 187
Aboutthe Author 197
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Acknowledgments
lowe a great deal to the supportand hard work ofmany people over a long pe
riod oftime. I would like to thank Edie Sarra, who supervised the dissertation
that was the origin ofthis book, and other members ofmy committee atIndiana
University, Sumie Jones, Scott O'Bryan, and Angela Pao. Each brought differ
ent and enriching enthusiasms, knowledge, and perspectives, and all were gen
erous with their time andtalents. Dissertationresearch inJapan was made possi
ble by a Fulbright lIE Graduate Research Fellowship. At the University of
Tokyo MatsuuraHisaki ofthe Culture and Representation department was kind
to serve as my adviser. I also benefited from the guidance ofAbe scholars Hi
raoka Tokuyoshi, Father William Currie, S.1., and Toba Koji, who generously
shared his own work on Abe's reportage period. Thanks also go to Bruce Baird
for close readings and insightful comments. Back inBloomington financial sup
port for this research came from Indiana University's College of Arts and
Sciences and the University Graduate School and moral support from Charles
and Kyoko Andrews, Janet Donley, Barb Grinder, and Mary Cender Miller.
Lastly, I wish to thank my family, especially my mother and father, for their
love and encouragement, and forteaching me about another Authorwho became
acharacterinHis ownwork.
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