Constructions of National IdentitiesConstructions of National Identities

E. Birney, M. Atwood, Ray SmithThe Decline of the American Empire

How is Nation Identity Constructed?How is Nation Identity Constructed?

History & Culture (e.g. “Who Are We?”) National Character (defined as different from the

Other[s]) e.g. Atwood’s poems, “CanLit” Land, Landscape and Boundaries National Allegories & Fantasies Collage of Individuals’ stories

“Cape Breton”

US/Canada Boundaries US/Canada Boundaries Without national defense; Invisible esp. during the times of

Independence War –the Royalists moved to Ontario and Atlantic Provinces, Vietnam war,After the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement—abolishing customs tax)

Great for shoppers & businessmen 80% of Canada’s Trade made with the Americans.

OutlineOutline

E. Birney, M. Atwood, Ray Smith Denys Arcand The Decline of the American Em

pire For next week . . .

Earl Birney’s “Can. Lit.”Earl Birney’s “Can. Lit.” Contraries: Eagles vs. wrens and hens “alone” (individualism) vs. Loneliness; bones vs. Railways Civil war vs. civil bore Whitman vs. wounded, lack of ghost

Margaret AtwoodMargaret Atwood

Concerned with Canada’s cultural identity; Feminist concerns

Survival (1972) Duality “Tricks with Mirror”;

Two-Headed Poems (1978) Victim mentality Developed from simple and bare

style and a concern with alienated identity to a wider range of styles and concerns.

e.g. Edible Woman

Margaret Atwood (2)Margaret Atwood (2) Postmodern, self-reflex

ive mode e.g. Historical female fig

ures: Moodie, “Marrying the Hangman”..

mixing poetry and fiction, mixing a lot of genres (Gothic, detective story, fairy tales, family romance, comedy, allegory, etc.)

Female Identities in Atwood’s PoemsFemale Identities in Atwood’s Poems Duality: inner and interpersonal both female

and Canadian Cannot be encased by photograph or mirror; Despite the limited conditions (of being a mirror

or dead), retain their independence and vivid consciousness;

Express their Body-consciousness and their Will expressed through their bodies

Photograph & MirrorPhotograph & Mirror “This is a photograph of Me” –gradual revelation

of a female self which is ultimately in enclosed but unknown.

“Tricks with Mirrors”— mirror as a perfect lover; mirror’s self-value; mirror’s efforts (restraints) mirror changed to a door a pool

Susanna MoodieSusanna Moodie 1832 from England to Upper Canada Her work: Ploughing it in the Bush, Life in the Cl

earings. Atwood’s “Thoughts from the Underground”:

retains a conscious identity after death; two parts of the poem: continuous and fragmented

“Marrying the Hangman” “Marrying the Hangman”

History–no fantasy but open to speculation the present, possibilities of rape

Does not present her as a heroin; describes how she manages to use her body to survive.

Pay attention to the body images.

Cape BretonCape Breton In Nova Scotia, one

of Maritime Provinces (or Atlantic Canada)

Poorer areas

http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/reference/provincesterritories/maritimes

Cape BretonCape Breton

coal mining, lumbering, fishing, and summer tourism e.g. the film “Margaret Museum”

Since 1955 the island has been linked to the mainland by a causeway across the Strait of Canso, making it the eastern land terminus of both the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian National Railway.

"Cape Breton Island." Encyclopædia Britannica 2003 Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 10 Mar, 2003 <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=20415>.

CapeBretonCapeBreton

http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/waterford/21/cbpics.htm

Broad Cove Marsh, Inverness County, NS                                           Summer, 1997

Strathlorne, Inverness County, Cape Breton 

Strathlorne, Inverness County, Cape Breton 

Autumn, 1996

Cape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of CanadaCape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of Canada Published in 1969 Ray Smith, born 1941, is from Mabou, Nov

a Scotia, Canada. Mabou is a beautiful village on the west coast of the island of Cape Breton

1963-- moved to Toronto, 1968 -- to Montreal

http://www.pluto.no/doogie/volapuk/Festival/hostfestival2000/smith.htm

“Cape Breton”—Centennial project“Cape Breton”—Centennial project

1867--Canada become a confederation of former colonies (The British North America Act)

1967 – Expo (World Exposition) in Montreal

“Cape Breton”: Historical Circumstances“Cape Breton”: Historical Circumstances1960‘s -- Quiet Revolution 1967 -- 法國總統戴高樂在蒙特婁演說，高呼「魁北克自由萬歲」，成為魁省獨派人士的精神口號。  1968 --  魁北克黨成立，以爭取魁北克脫離加拿大而獨立為職志。

1969--Official Languages Act    1970：爆發「十月危機」 (October Crisi

s) ，「魁北克解放陣線」策動一連串恐怖事件。

Cape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of CanadaCape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of Canada Composed of the following sections:

Dialogue/Relationship between a couple; pp. 357, 360; 361; 365; 369 allegory of a man in front of a mirror 369 Other individuals’ stories: Judy 358; Bill and George 360; Existence in nature; Canadian Arts (including the writer’s) 359 Talk to “you” about Canada/US relations pp. 357, 359; 362; 365; 368;

Fantasies: p. 357 (The Resistance); 359; 360; 361; 365 Analogy made to Poland 358; 362;

Cape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of CanadaCape Breton is the Thought Control Centre of Canada Questions: What do you think about the presentations of the

couple and the views of the Americans? How about the individuals presented in the

story?

Allusions in the storyAllusions in the story

NDP – New Democratic Party (of Canada) Peace Bridge -- at the mouth of the

Niagara River, at Fort Erie Canada and is pointed East to Buffalo

Arcand and Quebec separatismArcand and Quebec separatism1960 – Quiet Revolution1970 – October Crisis (Artists such as D. Arcand started to convey their

political messages through arts.)1974 ：魁北克通過法文為官方語言。1977 ︰ 178 Act 強制境內商業招牌一律使用法文。 1980 ：勒維克提出「主權聯繫」計畫，主張魁北克為獨立國家，但仍與加拿大維持密切關係，魁北克針對此計畫舉行公投 (referendum) ，反對者以 59%得票率獲勝。

Referendum: 1993; 1995

Arcand and Quebec separatismArcand and Quebec separatismArcand early works in the 1970’s (e.g. Gina): socialis

t and separatist; 80’s – critique the loss of idealism and degra

dation of human civilization; The Comfort and the Indifference (documentary)

Decline (1986); Jesus of Montreal (1989),

90’s – Love and Human Remains (1993 English);

2000 – Stardom (English)

The Decline of the American EmpireThe Decline of the American Empire

The characters: Lonely people: Claude, Diane, Dominiq

ue; Couple: Remy and Louise, Pierre and D

anielle Outsider: Mario, Danielle, Alain

The Decline of the American Empire: structure

The Decline of the American Empire: structure

Balanced by the meeting of the 8 people;

Before: the four men in the kitchen, talking about sex and extra-marital affairs, the four women in a gym;

After: more connections

QuestionsQuestions

What is the film about? Why is it called The Decline of Amdricna Empire? Clip 11

What are the characters afraid of? Is the film sympathetic or critical of these charact

ers?

Critique of the AcademicsCritique of the Academics

Their theories – not necessarily right Clips 1, 2, reflecting their own position clip 9, 11, 12

Their flippant views of sex & marriage – Pierre Remy

Their Limitations and Fears Their Limitations and Fears Shown in the Setting (clips 3, 5); Claude – illness (clip 4), dangerous sex (clip 6) Pierre – fear of telephone rings Dominique – lonely, “rage” in the morning, rene

wing herself with love with Alain Diane – (clip 9) aging, insecurity Louise – wants to be slim, blind to her husband’

s disloyalty, serving him all the time.

Their Mutual Support Their Mutual Support

Claude comforting Louise Diane comforting Claude Danielle and Louise playing the piano together forming a garrison among them (final snow

scene)

The Film’s Other The Film’s Other

Claude as homosexual ? The anonymous Oriental, Martinique, African

sex objects; Mustafa (clip 7)

Next WeekNext Week Stardom (about a world famous model): see discussion questi

ons in EngSite. -- The English Patient – chaps 1 & 2 plot not straightforward, but circular.

Narration -- (e.g. After we see Hana in the villa and then we get to know her decision to stay with the EP there [chap 1])Re-telling stories of their past

Major Characters: EP, Hana, Caravaggio, Kip (a Sikh sapper) –international bastards

Themes: fragmented identity// memory, reading, boundary-breaking forces (desert, war)