A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

The Paris Métro and urban experience in Annie Ernaux’s Journal du dehors and Céline Curiol’s Voix sans issue




AuthorsMirka Ahonen

PublisherRiksfoereningen foer Laerarna i Moderna Spraak

Publishing placeUppsala

Publication year2015

JournalModerna Sprak

Volume109

Issue2

First page 1

Last page15

Number of pages15

ISSN2000-3560

eISSN2000-3560

Web address http://ojs.ub.gu.se/ojs/index.php/modernasprak/article/view/3098


Abstract

According to Marc Auge, contemporary urban life generates non-places, meaningless spaces of transit and anonymity. I discuss the form taken by the idea of the non-place in contemporary representations of the Paris Metro, with a focus on urban experiences in Annie Ernaux's Journal du dehors and Celine Curiol's Voix sans issue. I argue that there are no fixed non-places; the experience of place is always subjective. The Metro can be seen momentarily as a non-place when it reflects the character's state of mind, but it can also be a meaningful place, connected to the character's identity and history.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 22:32