A Note on a Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Mikkel Bo Brendstrup Jensen

doi:10.1080/00144940.2014.905434

A Note on a Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Mikkel Bo Brendstrup Jensen

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › peer review

1 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

This brief paper provides an analysis of the title of Dave Eggers' 2000 memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s distinction between rhematic (formal) and thematic titles, the paper argues that the title of Eggers’ memoir is better seen as an aesthetic evaluation of Eggers’ book. From this observation, the paper offers a discussion of how the memoir’s title invites the reader to apply a reading protocol that does not dismiss the book’s emotional aspects as mere bathos.

Originalsprog	Engelsk
Tidsskrift	The Explicator
Vol/bind	72
Udgave nummer	2
Sider (fra-til)	146-150
Antal sider	5
ISSN	0014-4940
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/00144940.2014.905434
Status	Udgivet - 22 maj 2014
Udgivet eksternt	Ja

Emneord

Dave Eggers, paratexts, memoir, sincerity, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

Adgang til dokumentet

10.1080/00144940.2014.905434

AUB Link

Søg efter materialet i Aalborg Universitetsbiblioteks søgemaskine

Citationsformater

@article{543d89d9bec04692af815969c625bf3f,

title = "A Note on a Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius",

abstract = "This brief paper provides an analysis of the title of Dave Eggers' 2000 memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Drawing on G{\'e}rard Genette{\textquoteright}s distinction between rhematic (formal) and thematic titles, the paper argues that the title of Eggers{\textquoteright} memoir is better seen as an aesthetic evaluation of Eggers{\textquoteright} book. From this observation, the paper offers a discussion of how the memoir{\textquoteright}s title invites the reader to apply a reading protocol that does not dismiss the book{\textquoteright}s emotional aspects as mere bathos.",

keywords = "Dave Eggers, paratexts, memoir, sincerity, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Dave Eggers, paratexts, memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius",

author = "Jensen, {Mikkel Bo Brendstrup}",

year = "2014",

month = may,

day = "22",

doi = "10.1080/00144940.2014.905434",

language = "English",

volume = "72",

pages = "146--150",

journal = "The Explicator",

issn = "0014-4940",

publisher = "Routledge",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Note on a Title: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

AU - Jensen, Mikkel Bo Brendstrup

PY - 2014/5/22

Y1 - 2014/5/22

N2 - This brief paper provides an analysis of the title of Dave Eggers' 2000 memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s distinction between rhematic (formal) and thematic titles, the paper argues that the title of Eggers’ memoir is better seen as an aesthetic evaluation of Eggers’ book. From this observation, the paper offers a discussion of how the memoir’s title invites the reader to apply a reading protocol that does not dismiss the book’s emotional aspects as mere bathos.

AB - This brief paper provides an analysis of the title of Dave Eggers' 2000 memoir A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. Drawing on Gérard Genette’s distinction between rhematic (formal) and thematic titles, the paper argues that the title of Eggers’ memoir is better seen as an aesthetic evaluation of Eggers’ book. From this observation, the paper offers a discussion of how the memoir’s title invites the reader to apply a reading protocol that does not dismiss the book’s emotional aspects as mere bathos.

KW - Dave Eggers, paratexts, memoir, sincerity, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

KW - Dave Eggers, paratexts, memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius

U2 - 10.1080/00144940.2014.905434

DO - 10.1080/00144940.2014.905434

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0014-4940

VL - 72

SP - 146

EP - 150

JO - The Explicator

JF - The Explicator

IS - 2

ER -