As I’ve been able to spend more time
reading through Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina,
I’ve already been able to see that there are a number of very relevant themes
to today’s digital world and culture. I discussed in a previous post the
importance of moderation and balance, which is ultimately shown through the
different successful or unsuccessful relationships throughout the novel. But
more than that, the novel raises a number of other issues which I hope to
explore further. I’ve included below some of my thoughts as I’ve gone through
the text and some of the preliminary research I’ve been able to do. Keep in
mind this is me attempting to explore and reach out to more topics, and so I’ve
included some more ideas and directions.
Much
of the literary criticism of the text seems to focus on the different ethical
issues that arise from the central conflict (Anna Karenina’s infidelity), and
there is a lot of discussion about society’s reaction to the monster it
ultimately helped to create. The ideas of social judgment and reactions towards actions
that raise ethical and moral questions are still very important today. Just as in the
time when Tolstoy was writing, the question remains on how we deal with the
social problems that we ourselves create (directly or indirectly). While these are often not as obvious as Anna's fall from "social grace," I see this directly relating to our cult of the celebrity (Kristen Stewart anyone?) as well as our reactions to social problems stemming from the Internet (such as cyber-bullying). I think that Tolstoy's treatment of tough social issues has a lot to teach us about our own problems, and especially the ones that our society is (directly or indirectly) encouraging and thus promulgating.
Some sources I want to return back to:
- Raises interesting questions about the moral issues of adultery and judgement in our modern society. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2012/sep/10/refuse-judge-anna-karenina-tom-stoppard
- Discusses the ties between economic and social status with moral elevation. Ties the novel to modern day examples and issues with social structures and hierarchies. “The Dismantling of Hierarchy and the Defense of Social Class in Anna Karenina.” -- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9434.2011.00633.x/abstract;jsessionid= 905C9551DF3F139722992AD56DE55D3F.d01t03
- Anna Karenina in Our Time: Seeing More Wisely.--
- This full length book examines the surprisingly radical and modern social ideas of Tolstoy's text while challenging typical readings of the text. Saul Morrison, Anna Karenina in Our Time: Seeing More Wisely.-- HBLL PG 3365 .A63 M67 2007
Moderation/Balance
See previous blog post
Language
Language
plays a very important role within the text, and it is particularly interesting
to look at how translation alters meaning. I see this being a very applicable
theme through Tolstoy’s emphasis on the simplicity and purity of language,
which applies to the importance and rhetoric of speaking and writing online.
Some sources I want to return back to:
- I found this quote to be a very applicable observation of what we value in writing and language. “The sensation produced by Princess Myakaya’s speeches was always unique, and the secret of the sensation she produced lay in the fact that though she spoke not always appropriately, as now, she said simple things with some sense in them. In the society in which she lived such plain statements produced the effect of the wittiest epigram. Princess Myakaya could never see why it had that effect, but she knew it had, and took advantage of it.”
- Explores Tolstoy’s use of the phrase v glubine dusi (at the bottom of one’s heart) and how this effects and exemplifies the characters’ psychology, rhetoric and morality. “Psychology, Rhetoric and Morality in Anna Karenina: At the Bottom of Whose Heart?” -- http://www.jstor.org.erl.lib.byu.edu/openurl?volume=39&date=1995&spage=261&issn=00376752&issue=2
- The role of the word “prelest” or charm throughout the text and the action. “Treacherous 'Charm' in Anna Karenina” -- http://www.jstor.org.erl.lib.byu.edu/openurl? volume=39&date=1995&spage=214&issn=00376752&issue=2
Reactions to Text/ Remakes
With the upcoming film adaption of the text, there is a lot of discussion about movie adaptions of the text and what the new one will focus on.
Some sources I want to return back to:
- Tolstoy's, guiding light: the philosophical writings of the author of War and Peace inspired followers from Moscow to Croydon and led to the creation of a Christian anarchist reform movement. Charlotte Alston examines the activities and influence of Tolstoy's disciples -- http://web.ebscohost.com.erl.lib.byu.edu/ehost/detail?sid=4d2975f8-cb6e-44bc-8cc8-1b568ef65459%40sessionmgr4&vid=1&hid=14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=wdh&AN=54590631
- This full length book discusses remakes of the text, and also the text as a cross between the tale of Carmen and Joan of Arc. Film Remakes as Ritual and Disguise : From Carmen to Ripley -- http://search.lib.byu.edu/byu/id:doab12872
These are just a few more relevant themes that I see directly connecting to both Anna Karenina and to today's digital culture. Any more I should be sure and include?
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