Dostoevsky, Aspects and WWW

[Benjamin Sher]

Dear Seelangers:

Since I started this whole discussion about the aspects, let me say that
while I am excited to see a variety of opinions expressed on this critical
subject, I am amazed more by the difference in perspective or linguistic
framework and terminology employed than the actual analyses. The analyses
often seem clearly wrong to me, sometimes clearly right, but it is
obviously fruitless to pursue them in a vacuum, that is, without any
LITERARY or REALITY context.

Fortunately, thanks to GeoCities (see my earlier message), I'll be able to
set up my own Web site very soon. I am preparing it even as we speak. Part
of it will be a public forum for Russian language and literature.

I hope to make it possible for many of you to participate (by being
published, for example, for a month at a time, due to limitations of space).

However, the key element is this: Since my great passion is by far for
Dostoevsky, whom I, like many others, consider the Russian Shakespeare, and
since I am doing a poetic dramatization of The Possessed, I will ask
visitors to participate in a linguistic/literary discussion of certain VERY
SPECIFIC passages from The Possessed, which will be posted on line. I hope
to contribute what I can, and I hope other scholars will join me in
contributing their share, which will be posted online. The discussion will,
of course, include aspectual usage -- IN CONTEXT -- but also a full
grammatical and literary analysis (within the limits of space provided for
the forum), in miniature, of course, but still a full consideration of the
text, nevertheless. This will also allow for comparison and contrast, for
linkage between different passages in The Possessed. Discussion may be in
English or in transliterated Russian but will be RESTRICTED to THE
POSSESSED only.

I am a firm believer in a literary work as an "artifact," that is, that,
whatever its relationship with the world of other literary works or reality
at large, a given work of art must be considered and experienced as a
unique universe of linguistic, aesthetic and literary meaning. Its
significance beyond itself is obvious. In fact, its significance in the
world at large, its cultural resonance is what makes us care about it in
the final analysis. Perhaps such an approach can help us see the full
meaning and significance of the novel and its world. As the old cliche has
it: God is in the details. Or, as regards The Possessed, as another wit has
it: The Devil is in the details.

Personally, I can think of no better a forum for such discussions (not just
mine, but those of others) than mailing lists such Seelangs. But that's up
to the list to figure out. Personally I can do only what is within my power
to do, that is, to invite those of you who are interested to join me at my
web site later this summer.

There is much that I want to say about The Possessed, and there is much
that I have read about it,  but there is also much that I want to learn
from the many distinguished scholars on Seelangs and other mailing lists
such as Russian-Studies. That's what the revolution of the Internet is all
about. Isn't it?


Yours,

Benjamin Sher
sher07 at bellsouth.net