10
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
30 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Wednesday, October 25, 1967
17th century Frenchmen wrote risque stories, too
By Linda McCrerey
Kansan Staff Reporter
A little-known French writer of the 17th century wrote spicy stories in a style so careless it has been dubbed "the esthetics of negligence."
John C. Lapp, executive head of French and Italian at Stanford University, explained Jean de la Fontaine's writing at the second Humanities Lecture Tuesday night in Swarthout Recital Hall.
Lapp has just returned from France where he spent nine months studying material about La Fontaine. During his three-day visit at KU he is speaking to several French classes.
La Fontaine broke the classical tradition of following strict literary rules. He wrote in a deliberately careless and nonchalant style, rejecting all constraints.
La Fontaine, who lived from 1621 to 1695, was a member of a group of famous French writers. His own risque stories and fables, however, have often been overlooked by critics.
Three characteristics distinguish "nonchalant" writers from their more conservative contemporaries: irresponsibility, spontaneity (writing what comes naturally), and consubstantiality, which Lapp explained as writing that reflects the author himself.
Other nonchalant writers were Rabelais and Montaigne, Lapp said.
"Rules displease me—I write confusedly," said another writer, Theophile de Viau, whose mind strayed so much that he dozed while his hand wrote.
All these writers influenced La Fontaine, who borrowed material freely from others, especially Boccaccio. He cut, shaped, shortened or amplified it into new
Our Sound was used for last Al Hirt Concert
stories, Lapp said, expressing his idea of an author's right.
La Fontaine, better known for his "Fables" than his "Contes" (stories), wrote of the delights of love, mostly illicit. One censor called a story "pure pornography."
This off-hand manner, this careless give-and-take between author and reader, created the poetics of negligence, Lapp said.
Just 35 minutes east on 1-35 to 7th Ave. in K.C., K. South post KU Med. Center to 43rd St., east 4 blocks
"La Fontaine disclaimed all moral purpose in his 'Contes,'" Lapp said. His only intention was to attract the reader, to give him pleasure.
He was skeptical of marriage and denounced it as a "bourgeoisie characteristic, unworthy of the aristocracy." One of his favorite themes was unfaithful wives and their gullible husbands.
In his descriptions of women's amorous activities, he praised woman's warmth and deftness, her grace of bearing, her gentle glance, and her youthful, round figure.
He believed it was natural to admire the fair sex, however, and painted glowing verbal pictures of them.
"This aspect of La Fontaine's negligence places him in the ranks of the Feminist." Lapp said.
La Fontaine made "carefree intrusions" into his writings, his mark of independence. He interrupted stories to explain to the reader, to insist on his own incompetence as a storyteller, or to argue with the academic critics, whom he knew wouldn't approve of his "naughty tales."
The K-State Collegian, students newspaper at that university, has run an ad saying, "Vince Gibson walks on water." After the past two weekends, we wonder if the students have found any oil slicks or life jackets floating.
AEROBATICS
Qualified aerobatic instruction in the superb Beech T-34 at Olathe Municipal Airport. Also demonstration rides, check-out, and rentals for qualified pilots. You've only existed if you've never rolled a T-34.
Call 913 ST2-0744.