RE: JCO: The evolution of Oates writing style

Hi Eric,

No objection to your title change. My attempt at brevity was indeed ambiguous.
It's interesting that you again brought up the idea of "cinematic" novels and
writing. I know we've already discussed this on this list and I've come across
Oates herself using it several times in interviews. I must admit, however, not
to have a strong grasp of what it actually means. Is it supposed to mean that
the writing is more visual and action-based rather than introspective and
description-based?

tanya

Selon Eric Anderson <erickarl78@hotmail.com>:

> Hi Tanya
>
> Interesting topic to raise. Although, I hope you don't mind if I re-title
> the discussion because reading "Oates periods" rather sounds like we're
> discussing her time of the month... or use of that form of punctuation. Lol.
> ;)
>
> I've read section of Cologne-Brooks' study of her work and I think it is
> interesting and broadly correct in categorizing the evolution of her work in
> that way. However, I feel that in tone of voice and style her writing has
> become more private and introspective recently in fact. A lot of it seems to
> be in the first person or from a very first person type perspective - like
> in Blonde where you feel the whole narrative is like a movie playing in
> Norma Jeane’s head. Oates has referred to this book as a cinematic kind of
> literature and I think this technique has reverberated into other of her
> novels, particularly the new Lauren Kelly books. However, it’s true you can
> still see the more straightforward dialogue Oates is having with social
> concerns - particularly in a book like The Falls dealing with a whole
> community of people who have been deceived and harmed because of corporate
> interests. I’m not sure there are consistent differences that you could
> point out which distinguish the books she’s published in the 00s compared to
> the work she was putting out in the 90s though. The themes are quite varied,
> though many of course still deal with women who have been mistreated by
> individuals and neglected by society.
>
> Thanks
> eric
>
>
> >From: tanya.tromble@free.fr
> >Reply-To: jco@usfca.edu
> >To: jco@usfca.edu
> >Subject: JCO: Oates periods
> >Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:49:20 +0200
> >
> >Hello all,
> >
> >I've recently read Gavin Cologne-Brooks' "Dark Eyes On America" and have
> >been
> >musing over the timeline he has constructed of Oates's career. He splits
> >it up
> >into three basic sections. 1964-78, the early part which he feels is
> >private
> >and introspective. 1978-85, a middle period of radical experimentation
> >dealing
> >with transitions. And 1985 to present, the latter part which he views as
> >more
> >social and multi-voiced.
> >
> >I'm personally tempted to see another split at "Blonde", although I can't
> >quite
> >put my finger on why. It's quite possible that this idea only has to do
> >with
> >external circumstances and not with the works themselves. Perhaps because
> >it
> >was published in 2000, a nice round number, and because it was around this
> >time
> >that she abandoned her Rosamund Smith pseudonym and switched to Lauren
> >Kelly.
> >Or perhaps quite simply that it was around this time that I really got into
> >reading her works.
> >
> >What do you think? If my question manages to provoke some thought and get
> >some
> >discussion going again, I will indeed be very proud. If not, I'll just
> >give up
> >on all this thinking and go take a nap!
> >
> >Best,
> >Tanya
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