Ligotti as a form of Neo-Decadent literature

[The New Nonsense]

Essay topic:
Ligotti's work as a form of contemporary Decadent or Neo-Decadent literature.

I'll be focusing on his use of classic Decadent themes and how he's adapted these to a modern aesthetic. I'll also be comparing and contrasting his uniquely grim and bleak use of themes of ruin, pessimism, chronic illness, beauty in deformity, and obsession with the artificial with former Decadents from the Fin-de-Siecle era.

He's much more than simply an author of horror, and I'd like to hopefully introduce his work to those that are normally philosophy and poetry readers. I truly believe Ligotti is the Baudelaire of our era.

I don't know if I'll be able to pull off the essay in time or not, but I'm going to give it a shot. It's going well so far. Wish me luck.

Anyone else going to throw their topic in?

[Dr. Bantham]

Hooray! Congratulations for being the first brave soul to leap from the precipice. Considering the hacking and hosting dramas which plagued TLO in the past few weeks, I was fearful that the contest would be forgotten entirely.

This is an excellent topic and one which intrigues me wholly. Unfortunately, Decadent literature is not an area which I am knowledgeable in beyond a novice affair. I look forward to tasty bits and pieces you may share with us!

Perhaps this will inspire others to take the step forward?

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[unknown]

Good luck! If I had the time (and imagination) I would attempt to write an essay

[G. S. Carnivals]

Ah, now that I have the gauze out of my brain, I'll place this one properly.

A gem for you, Kevin:

"A type of worship may even be devoted to the ruined state, consecrating earthly objects that in their decrepitude have attained a divine status. Crumbling pillars shake off their burden, forsake their function, and stand serenely above the rubble of old pediments. And what domes and spires may still be held aloft release their grasp upon the gray heights of a barren horizon. Below, carven images of gods and beasts all abandon themselves to shattered confusion, their once perfect likenesses now heaped and corroded, their significance lost. Skeletons eased of all flesh openly consort with stones and dust, liberated from the duties of life."

Thomas Ligotti - "The Mocking Mystery"

Best of luck!

Phil

[G. S. Carnivals]

Quote Originally Posted by seelebrenntdotcom";p=&quot

These are, of course, themes one can also find in Poe and Lovecraft, but don't forget to look into possible connections to Flannery O’Connor and/or R.R. Ryan (probably O'Connor, as Ryan isn't that well known).

Kevin, if you have the inclination (and time) to explore Flannery O'Connor's fiction, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" is the story to seek out. Trust me.

[The New Nonsense]

Wow! Thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.

[The New Nonsense]

Yes, many thanks to seelebrenntdotcom, GS Carnivals, and many others for the much appreciated help and encouragement! I've taken your advice about Flannery O'Connor and ordered the Library of America edition of her collected works (big fan of Library of America's quality). Been brushing up and taking notes on J. K. Huysman's "A Rebours" loosely translated as either "Against the Grain" or "Against Nature". It's widely considered the "bible" of Decadent literature. Anyway, back to work!

[Harksen]

Hi,

Great idea! Here's a few suggestions; forgive me if they are rather vague...

You state that part of this is to show Ligotti's writing as philosophical significant, right? To bolster this, perhaps it can be worthwhile to take a brief look at how Ligotti's Decadent outlook in many ways also encompass a perculiar, radical sort of Existentialism? Although not himself really an existentialist, maybe Nietzsche's project can be of interest--the total rejection of society's taken-for-granted values illustrated in the most horrified way in Ligotti's decadent usage of sceneries and people. For instance, in Ligotti's fiction the prominent feature of modern life as meaningless, filled with people who are really living a "non-life" bound by in-reality worthless and meaningless values and codes--using decadent symbolism, as it is--seems to me to be strickingly Nietzschean...

A project I'd love to undertake myself, but I fear I won't find the time for it... :-/ If nothing else, I hope you found it entertaining enough to read through, hehe :-D

[G. S. Carnivals]

Kevin,

I can't argue with Harksen's ideas. They are excellent. The main thing, however, is to stick with your original thesis. If you begin to deal with existentialism per se, you postdate the period you wish to deal with. Don't let the article get bigger or busier than it needs to be. Focus.

As always, best wishes,
Phil

[Harksen]

I agree wholeheartedly with Carnivals, of course. My throw-off of a suggestion was only in case some further, philosophical elements were needed--within the framework already existing.

Good luck with the project, Kevin. Sounds very promising, that's for sure. You are guaranteed a reader in me, that's for sure ;-)

Regards,
Henrik

(P.S. I don't really know how that free floating "hi," apparently mine, post got there??? Sorry if I somehow made some *duh* mistake some days ago.)