Will Self’s Between
the Conceits in his collection of stories Grey Area involves the quest for meaning in the restrictive socio
cultural context of the 21st century London depicted in the novel. In the
story, creativity is rendered as the only reliable avenue as a source for
acquiring and shaping meaning in an unimaginative socio-cultural context. The
anonymous protagonist’s soliloquy as he addresses the reader throughout the story
relies on individualistic and imaginative strategies. His efforts in overcoming
loneliness and ennui as he attempts to withstand closure and control through
intellectual creativity demonstrates the inevitability of facing a social
reality that is resistant to change. In this respect, the narrator attempts to
build a sense of identity and purpose throughout his narrative in which he
creates his own hypothetical society. Hence, the socio-cultural dynamics of
this imaginary social order are utilized as a means for self expression and
undermining the order he exists in. In the story, there are many socially
constructed roadblocks that stand in the way of natural creativity and although
it is implied that the ultimate aim is to have a purposeful life, this is
questioned through the impositions of value criteria shaped by capitalism. As
the characters face socially induced daily concerns, they are implied to be
kept from experiencing their individualities and creative selves due to the
cultural impositions of a society that makes its evaluations in terms of
material measures. In this socio economical background, all creativity is
diminished and rendered void. Hence, it is implied that our socially dominated
mind-sets interfere with and dominate the process of our self identification as
members of a society.
Primary Language | English |
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Journal Section | Makaleler |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 1, 2015 |
Submission Date | July 1, 2015 |
Published in Issue | Year 2015 Volume: 4 Issue: 2 |
İnönü Üniversitesi Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
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