Wednesday, October 11, 1967
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
5
New fiction destroys reality and de-humanizes characters
Modern fiction no longer describes, interprets, judges and warns us about life but instead renders an act of experimentation, explores the ingredients of life and demonstrates the mobility of the mind.
Victor Lange, chairman of the German department at Princeton
Monkey business highlights class demonstration
A South American visitor attended the Anthropology 1 lecture in Hoch Auditorium today.
Sam, a spider monkey, was in the class to provide a living example of man's sub-human primate origins, Scott Ferris, teaching assistant, said.
"We had a chimpanzee last year but she has since grown too energetic to be brought before the class of 1,000." he said.
Ferris said William Bass, professor of anthropology and teacher of the class, believes in showing people as much visible source material in the explanation of anthropology as possible.
University, made this observation Tuesday night in the University Theatre. He spoke of the changes that have occurred in the novel since it's rather recent beginning.
Reality uncertain
Lange said white the early novel was concerned with the human being, the modern novel probes reality.
"Reality is now probed to the point that it alludes us and we are no longer sure of it," Lange said.
Lange said in the modern novel the world is no longer fixed but rather something we are left to contemplate. However, in contemplating the world we destroy it.
This year's deficit will be paid from a Jayhawker reserve fund of about $7,000, but, Yoe clearly does not want another deficit.
"The modern novel is somewhat of a scientific investigation," said Lange. The novelist takes life apart and examines it as a child takes apart a puzzle and carefully looks at each piece.
While the narrator of the novel is engaged in an experiment he is not looking for any conclusion or resolution.
Lange said modern novelists now reject the idea that fiction should tell one something about the individual. They no longer use the average man in their stories but compose synthetic characters.
Characters "de-humanized"
Lange termed modern novels "anti-behavioral," "anti-personal" and "de-humanized" because they do not involve the reader with the characters. The characters are merely objects of contemplation for the narrator.
Hill continues to worry about last year's disappointed student who is not buying this year.
The modern novelist may assume several points of view, contradict himself and even take back what he earlier has said.
"The modern novelist no longer wants omniscience but rather mobility and freedom to do what he likes," said Lange. "He wants freedom to experiment."
Lange said that in taking life apart as the modern novelist does all the elements of classical fiction are destroyed. The characters become symbols, the plot really isn't a plot and the language ceases to be descriptive.
Jayhawker-
But Yee, yearbook adviser for several decades, isn't that concerned.
continued from page 1 to stay within the budget, which still can fluctuate because of adversising, senior picture fees and perhaps more sales.
continued from page 1
Pressure to stay within the budget is strong.
“It’s embarrassing, but not disasterous,” he said, adding that the last Jayhawker deficit occurred in the early 1950's.
Already, an unofficial examination of last year's records shows a possible deficit ranging in the "hundreds of dollars." Yoe said.
"If Hill can get one out before Christmas, he'll be surprised how the Jayhawker's image will change."
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