2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
A Cultural History of Progressive Design and Representation of Catastrophe in 20th Century American Literature
| Project/Area Number |
22520241
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Literature in English
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| Research Institution | Osaka University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2010-04-01 – 2014-03-31
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| Keywords | アメリカ文学 / 進歩 / 破局 / 表象 / デザイン / 進化 / ドン・デリーロ / リチャード・パワーズ |
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| Research Abstract |
The primary purpose of this research project is to analyze how American imagination, which has always already preempted future and pursued progress, has come to terms with contingent catastrophes, disasters, and terrorism which have undermined the very foundation of its future-oriented exceptionalism. From this unprecedented perspective, the project tried to delineate the idiosyncratic crossroads between technologically enhanced designs characteristic of American culture and representations of lethal havoc which abruptly shattered its assumptions. Through this investigation the dynamic interfaces have been detected where the progressive discourses infiltrated into twentieth century American life and visions of death, which recurrent calamities have foregrounded, give feedback to each other with their energy replenished to generate a new phase of relationship.
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