Gisele Feb.6 Post

    Ted Goossen was what I expected the editor of a literary magazine like 'Monkey' would be like—light-hearted and lively. I especially appreciated the way he explained the editorial team's attempt to use 'Monkey' as an opportunity to make the experience of reading rightfully contemporary and playful. It is rare in the literary community to find communities that reinvigorate the importance of partaking in "good ol' monkey business," so it was really endearing to hear his perspective on 'Monkey''s importance. Although, I think Ted's overall presence was refreshing. He spoke about things, passionately, but at the same time with the kind of ease that must come with age and confidence in one's abilities. Though, at the same time he had a habit of opening the floor up to the audience which was something I wasn't expecting. Overall, he came off as very collaborative, which he mentioned was a major part of his personal translation process as long as the process for 'Monkey' translation publications. I really admire not only the work he's been able to do but the relationships and memories he seems to have made in the process of reaching a point in his life where he can translate full-time, which he expressed immeasurable gratitude for. 

    As for the reading—I can't say it was as easy to get through as the other texts, though I suppose I am more of a contemporary reader. I was wondering while reading 'A Simple Soul' if translating from French to English is truly any easier than translating from Chinese or Japanese, or if that is only a misconception. I think the story itself had some very endearing moments, especially when Felicite would worry or care for her own or Madame Aubaine's children. As for the reviews, I was particularly interested in the review of 'The Wall.' The story's plot seems so unbelievable—which is something I tend to be drawn to—that it was incredible how James Wood was able to pull so many interesting things from the text. His explanation of 'The Wall' as a "dystopian novel that gradually becomes a utopian one," was especially interesting. Strangely enough, it reminds me of a 'Rick and Morty' episode (Season 6, Episode 1) in which one of the canonically useless characters, after having been abandoned on a version of Earth that is essentially destroyed, is the only one to survive an apocalypse and obtains wisdom as a result. However, as James Wood puts it, his transformation is one that "has come too late," since he's already lost his family. It's a strange comparison, but while reading this review it was the first thing to come to mind. I suppose there are many people out there considering the possibility of their own unimportance against the backdrop of life as a whole. 

    Within my own translation language, I decided to read a review of Han Kang's 'The Vegetarian' sent to me by Prof. Elliot and titled, "Raw and Crooked." The reviewer, Tim Parks, is referenced in another review of 'The Vegetarian' as the sole negative reviewer of the Man Booker Prize-winning translation, so I figured it would be an interesting perspective. He focuses a lot of his attention on translator Deborah Smith's various inconsistencies within her translation and how they contribute to a lousy representation of Korean literature. He argues, quite boldly, that Smith's translation is, rather than an attempt to showcase Korean literature to a new audience, an attempt to make 'The Vegetarian' suited for what critics would deem "global fiction." And as a result, the text becomes something like a self-fulfilling project for Western audiences to "explore" global fiction while at the same time reinforcing their own ignorant perspectives.