Abe Kobo (1924–1993) was one of Japan's greatest postwar writers, widely recognized for his imaginative science fiction and plays of the absurd. However, he also wrote theoretical criticism for which he is lesser known, merging literary, historical, and philosophical perspectives into keen reflections on the nature of creativity, the evolution of the human species, and an impressive range of other subjects.
Abe Kobo tackled contemporary social issues and literary theory with the depth and facility of a visionary thinker. Featuring twelve essays from his prolific career—including "Poetry and Poets (Consciousness and the Unconscious)," written in 1944, and "The Frontier Within, Part II," written in 1969—this anthology introduces English-speaking readers to Abe Kobo as critic and intellectual for the first time. Demonstrating the importance of his theoretical work to a broader understanding of his fiction—and a richer portrait of Japan's postwar imagination—Richard F. Calichman provides an incisive introduction to Abe Kobo's achievements and situates his essays historically and intellectually.
- Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Poetry and Poets (Consciousness and the Unconscious)
- Theory and Practice in Literature
- The Hand of a Calculator with the Heart of a Beast: What Is Literature?
- Discovering America
- Does the Visual Image Destroy the Walls of Language?
- Artistic Revolution: Theory of the Art Movement
- Possibilities for Education Today: On the Essence of Human Existence
- Beyond the Neighbor
- The Military Look
- Passport of Heresy
- The Frontier Within
- The Frontier Within, Part II
- Notes
- Glossary
- Index
Text
Audio
Adobe DRM
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