Literary Cartographies: (Re)Mapping the Intersections between the Local and the Global in the Novels of Ben Lerner.

• Grant number: 24/00806-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Literature - Modern Foreign Literatures
• Principal Investigator: Maria Elisa Burgos Pereira da Silva Cevasco
• Grantee: Matheus Camargo Jardim
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research project proposes an analysis of the representations of space in the contemporary novels "Leaving the Atocha Station" (2011) and "Topeka School" (2019) by Ben Lerner. It explores how spaces are constructed and navigated by the narrators, highlighting the dynamic relationship between subjectivity, culture, and historical-social context. Preliminary research indicates that the representation of space goes beyond the descriptive, acting as a symbolic construction reflecting values, identities, and cultural tensions. Spanning from Old World cities to American suburbs, the novels offer a unique perspective on contemporary themes such as globalization and identity. The analysis of narrative devices, such as free indirect discourse, contributes to understanding space as a living and mutable entity shaped by the perceptions of narrative voices. The research not only enriches the understanding of contemporary literature but also contributes to the critical dialogue on current issues of identity and global interconnectedness. By unraveling, through the representation of space, the complexities of the experience in the face of the challenges of the globalized world, this project seeks a significant contribution to cultural and literary studies.