Vol.11, No 1, 2013 pp. 47 - 54
UDC 821.111.09-31 Akrojd P.
POSTMODERNIST APPROACH TO BIOGRAPHY: THE LAST TESTAMENT OF OSCAR WILDE BY PETER ACKROYD
Mirjana M. Knežević
Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
E-mail: pubebe@sezampro.rs
The article explores the postmodernist approach to biography through an analysis of the novel "The Last Testament of Oscar Wilde" (1983) by Peter Ackroyd. The theoretical framework the essay uses provides a synthesis of relevant ideas on the subject: it touches on Julia Kristeva, William Irwin and Linda Hutcheon's observations on intertextuality, as well as Fredric Jameson and Roger Fowler's views on pastiche and parody. It also draws slight parallels to other Ackroyd's works which use similar literary methods and techniques. The essay concludes by reinforcing the fact that, despite the postmodernist distortions and all its playful ventriloquism, the novel is perfectly capable of providing a genuine insight into the life of its subject, managing to bring this character from the past alive to the reader – which is, the essay asserts, the only aim of any significance of a true biography.
Key words: postmodernism, biography, Oscar Wilde, Peter Ackroyd
POSTMODERNISTIČKI PRISTUP BIOGRAFIJI: POSLEDNJI TESTAMENT OSKARA VAJLDA PITERA AKROJDA
Rad istražuje postmodernistički pristup biografiji kroz analizu romana ,,Poslednji testament Oskara Vajlda" (1983) Pitera Akrojda. Teoretski okvir koji esej koristi nudi sintezu relevantnih ideja o tom predmetu: opservacijе Julije Kristeve, Vilijama Irvina i Linde Hačion o intertekstualnosti, kao i stavove Fredrika Džejmsona i Rodžera Faulera o pastišu i parodiji. Esej takodje povlači paralele sa drugim Akrojdovim radovima koji koriste slične književne metode i tehnike. U zaključku se ističe činjenica da, uprkos postmodernističkim distorcijama i razigranom ventrilokvizmu, roman savršeno uspeva da pruži pravi uvid u život svog subjekta, uspevajući da oživi čitaocu lik iz prošlosti – što je, tvrdi se u eseju, jedini važan cilj istinske biografije.
Ključne reči: postmodernizam, biografija, Oskar Vajld, Piter Akrojd