Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0023061, Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:28:32 -0400

Subject
Re: Please post w/ ironic comment if possible
Date
Body
I think finding Freud objectionable includes many intellectuals, and it is NOT axiomatic that these have sexual issues. For one Freud was intellectually dishonest, for seconds I suggest the Wolfman case had some very flaky conclusions. And finally, since the unconscious or id is not an anatomic site, it remains theoretical and unproved.You could also extend the antipathy to Hilter as a sexual problem, or being hsotile to Soviet totaliarianism as a sexual pecadillo.Nabokov,a man who loved precision and definition was no lover of the lowest common denominator, he respected individual rights and intellectual freedom above all .Generally speaking, we can assess the Freudian contribution in the field of science as trivial. In the world of art, there were more gullible souls. Neuroanatomy, neuroscience not conjectures will show their mettle beside Freudian theories. Anyway, not sure how any of this applies to Nabokov studies or love of literature and art, but I felt Nabokov's rejection is perfectly his right and not objectionable.



-----Original Message-----
From: Jansy <jansy@AETERN.US>
To: NABOKV-L <NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU>
Sent: Sat, Jul 14, 2012 3:47 pm
Subject: Re: [NABOKV-L] Please post w/ ironic comment if possible


C.Kunin:..."As to why Nabokov rejected Freud - don't be so quick to believe everything the old man wrote about his motivations. I believe, and this is just between you and me, that Nabokov had sexual problems to hide. I think that they were the same as Shade's and I further believe that Pale Fire is in fact Nabokov's sexual confession. Further I can not go at this time. "

Jansy Mello: It was ironic, then, as usual. Of course, all of mankind has sexual problems to hide (with a few exceptions, such as it happens in perversions), so why wouldn't Nabokov! Your theory, probably connected to your J&H intrerpretation of R.L.Stevenson's story, departs from old Shade's conflicts.The problem is how you'll proceed to demonstrate that VN and Shade (plus Kinbote) share the same "sexual problems." For me, to show how Shade and Kinbote are one and the same is quite enough.


Google Search the archive

Contact the Editors

Visit "Nabokov Online Journal"

Visit Zembla

View Nabokv-L Policies

Manage subscription options

Visit AdaOnline

View NSJ Ada Annotations

Temporary L-Soft Search the archive


All private editorial communications areread by both co-editors.


Search archive with Google:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search?q=site:listserv.ucsb.edu&HL=en

Contact the Editors: mailto:nabokv-l@utk.edu,nabokv-l@holycross.edu
Visit Zembla: http://www.libraries.psu.edu/nabokov/zembla.htm
View Nabokv-L policies: http://web.utk.edu/~sblackwe/EDNote.htm
Visit "Nabokov Online Journal:" http://www.nabokovonline.com

Manage subscription options: http://listserv.ucsb.edu/








Attachment