V. C. Sreejan
Encyclopedia
V. C. Sreejan is a literary critic writing in Malayalam. Born in 1951, he retired in 2007 after working as Reader in English
in Government Brennen College, Thalassery. He has published eleven books in Malayalam. In 2003 he was awarded the Kerala Sahithya Akademi's C.B. Kumar Award' for his work Arthantharanyasm.
, psychoanalysis
and literary theory
. It includes two introductory essays on Jacques Derrida
.The last two essays discuss novels by O. V. Vijayan
and M. T. Vasudevan Nair
.
Pravachakante Maranam, (1993) includes an early piece on the absurd
(1972), an essay on Bertolt Brecht's theatre, an introduction to Brecht's Three Penny Novel, a study of Ambikasuthan Mangad's story and an essay on the politics of deconstruction
.
Kathayum Pratyayasastravum,(1993) contains an introduction to Western Marxist literary criticism, and an introduction to structuralism
. It includes an essay on the Dhvani theory which argues that Dhvani is the same as metaphor
in the broad sense of the term, an essay on the ideological underpinnings of some short stories and essays on T. Padmanabhan and Paul Zacharia
.
Vaakkum Vaakkum, (1996) is devoted to the reading of poems by Vyloppillil Sreedhara Menon, P. Kunhiraman Nair
, K. Ayyappa Panicker
and Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
. The other works discussed include novels by O. V. Vijayan
, V. M. Basheer and short stories by T. Padmanabhan and Zacharia.
Arthantaranyasam, (1999) discusses the relevance of the classical Indian concepts of Dhvani and Rasa. It begins with an analysis of the theory of metaphor
and its relationship with the concepts of Freudian Unconscious
and Marxian concept of ideology
.It is argued that in their classical form Dhvani and Rasa are not useful in reading modern texts.Rasa is rejected as such, and the Dhvani theory is given a more prosaic interpretation along the lines suggested by Mukulabhatta. Instead of reviving these theories, these are to be destroyed and a new concept can be created out of their ruins.
Aadhunikotharam: Vimarsanavum Vikalanavum, (1999) is a closely argued response to some Malayalam critics and writers who maintain that Malayalam literature
has already entered into its post-modern phase. With reference to the Western writers, it is argued that this claim is not true.
Vimarsanatmaka siddhantam, (1999) is an expository book on the work of Frankfurt School
.
Novelvayanakal, (2003) reads 12 Malayalam novels without using many critical tool borrowed from the west. Part of the text itself is taken as the model for reading and interpreting it. It brings out relays of meanings across the works. It reveals a current of non-religious spirituality
running through the works read.
Prathivadangal, (2004) is a thoroughgoing criticism of Marxian philosophical concepts.
Arthavadangal, (2006: Mathrubhumi Books, Kozhikode)contains essays on Death, Dhvani theory. Arthavadam, M. P. Paul and William Hudson, Appan Thampuran's Bhutarayar, Venmani Mahan's Pooraprabandham etc.
Rahukalam, (2007: Sign Books, Thiruvananthapuram) is a collection of essays on Joseph Muliyil's Sukumari, Medieval Malayalam poetry, Asan's Duravastha, N. Prabhakaran's Bhutabhumi, poetry of Rafeeq Ahmed and Cervantes
' Don Quixote
Forthcoming:
Chinthayude Mayalokangal(Kairali Books, Kannur)
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in Government Brennen College, Thalassery. He has published eleven books in Malayalam. In 2003 he was awarded the Kerala Sahithya Akademi's C.B. Kumar Award' for his work Arthantharanyasm.
Works
Chinthayile Roopakangal, (1991) is a collection of articles on the role of metaphors in philosophyPhilosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and literary theory
Literary theory
Literary theory in a strict sense is the systematic study of the nature of literature and of the methods for analyzing literature. However, literary scholarship since the 19th century often includes—in addition to, or even instead of literary theory in the strict sense—considerations of...
. It includes two introductory essays on Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida was a French philosopher, born in French Algeria. He developed the critical theory known as deconstruction and his work has been labeled as post-structuralism and associated with postmodern philosophy...
.The last two essays discuss novels by O. V. Vijayan
O. V. Vijayan
Ootupulackal Velukkuty Vijayan was an Indian author and cartoonist, who was an important figure in modern Malayalam literature. Best known for his first novel Khasakkinte Itihasam , Vijayan has six novels, nine short-story collections, and nine collections of essays, memoirs and reflections.-...
and M. T. Vasudevan Nair
M. T. Vasudevan Nair
Madathil Thekkepaattu Vasudevan Nair , popularly known as MT, is an Indian author, screenplay writer and film director. He was born in Kudallur, a small village in the present day Palakkad District, which was under the Malabar District in the Madras Presidency of the British Raj...
.
Pravachakante Maranam, (1993) includes an early piece on the absurd
Absurdism
In philosophy, "The Absurd" refers to the conflict between the human tendency to seek value and meaning in life and the human inability to find any...
(1972), an essay on Bertolt Brecht's theatre, an introduction to Brecht's Three Penny Novel, a study of Ambikasuthan Mangad's story and an essay on the politics of deconstruction
Deconstruction
Deconstruction is a term introduced by French philosopher Jacques Derrida in his 1967 book Of Grammatology. Although he carefully avoided defining the term directly, he sought to apply Martin Heidegger's concept of Destruktion or Abbau, to textual reading...
.
Kathayum Pratyayasastravum,(1993) contains an introduction to Western Marxist literary criticism, and an introduction to structuralism
Structuralism
Structuralism originated in the structural linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure and the subsequent Prague and Moscow schools of linguistics. Just as structural linguistics was facing serious challenges from the likes of Noam Chomsky and thus fading in importance in linguistics, structuralism...
. It includes an essay on the Dhvani theory which argues that Dhvani is the same as metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
in the broad sense of the term, an essay on the ideological underpinnings of some short stories and essays on T. Padmanabhan and Paul Zacharia
Paul Zacharia
Paul Zacharia is a Malayalam short story writer, novelist and essayist. Born in Urulikkunnam in Kottayam district in Kerala, India, Zacharia lives in Trivandrum.-Literary career:...
.
Vaakkum Vaakkum, (1996) is devoted to the reading of poems by Vyloppillil Sreedhara Menon, P. Kunhiraman Nair
P. Kunhiraman Nair
P. Kunhiraman Nair , also known as Mahakavi P, was a renowned Malayalam poet whose works romanticised the natural beauty of his home state of Kerala in southern India and juxtaposed it with the hard realities of his life and times.Born in Bellikoth near Kanhangad of North Malabar, P., as he is...
, K. Ayyappa Panicker
K. Ayyappa Panicker
Dr. K. Ayyappa Paniker, sometimes spelt "Ayyappa Panicker" was an influential Malayalam poet, literary critic, and an academic and a scholar in modern and post-modern literary theories as well as ancient Indian aesthetics and literary traditions...
and Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan
Kadammanitta Ramakrishnan , popularly known as Kadammanitta, was an Indian poet. He was born in Kadammanitta province of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala. His childhood experiences, especially the Patayani songs, imparted strong influence in his literary work...
. The other works discussed include novels by O. V. Vijayan
O. V. Vijayan
Ootupulackal Velukkuty Vijayan was an Indian author and cartoonist, who was an important figure in modern Malayalam literature. Best known for his first novel Khasakkinte Itihasam , Vijayan has six novels, nine short-story collections, and nine collections of essays, memoirs and reflections.-...
, V. M. Basheer and short stories by T. Padmanabhan and Zacharia.
Arthantaranyasam, (1999) discusses the relevance of the classical Indian concepts of Dhvani and Rasa. It begins with an analysis of the theory of metaphor
Metaphor
A metaphor is a literary figure of speech that uses an image, story or tangible thing to represent a less tangible thing or some intangible quality or idea; e.g., "Her eyes were glistening jewels." Metaphor may also be used for any rhetorical figures of speech that achieve their effects via...
and its relationship with the concepts of Freudian Unconscious
Unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is a term coined by the 18th century German romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling and later introduced into English by the poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
and Marxian concept of ideology
Ideology
An ideology is a set of ideas that constitutes one's goals, expectations, and actions. An ideology can be thought of as a comprehensive vision, as a way of looking at things , as in common sense and several philosophical tendencies , or a set of ideas proposed by the dominant class of a society to...
.It is argued that in their classical form Dhvani and Rasa are not useful in reading modern texts.Rasa is rejected as such, and the Dhvani theory is given a more prosaic interpretation along the lines suggested by Mukulabhatta. Instead of reviving these theories, these are to be destroyed and a new concept can be created out of their ruins.
Aadhunikotharam: Vimarsanavum Vikalanavum, (1999) is a closely argued response to some Malayalam critics and writers who maintain that Malayalam literature
Malayalam literature
The term Malayalam literature refers to Literature written in Malayalam language. Malayalam is the language spoken by around 35 million people, mainly the inhabitants of the state of Kerala and the union territory of Lakshadweep Islands in India. Malayalam is a Dravidian language and thus has close...
has already entered into its post-modern phase. With reference to the Western writers, it is argued that this claim is not true.
Vimarsanatmaka siddhantam, (1999) is an expository book on the work of Frankfurt School
Frankfurt School
The Frankfurt School refers to a school of neo-Marxist interdisciplinary social theory, particularly associated with the Institute for Social Research at the University of Frankfurt am Main...
.
Novelvayanakal, (2003) reads 12 Malayalam novels without using many critical tool borrowed from the west. Part of the text itself is taken as the model for reading and interpreting it. It brings out relays of meanings across the works. It reveals a current of non-religious spirituality
Spirituality
Spirituality can refer to an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality; an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being; or the “deepest values and meanings by which people live.” Spiritual practices, including meditation, prayer and contemplation, are intended to develop...
running through the works read.
Prathivadangal, (2004) is a thoroughgoing criticism of Marxian philosophical concepts.
Arthavadangal, (2006: Mathrubhumi Books, Kozhikode)contains essays on Death, Dhvani theory. Arthavadam, M. P. Paul and William Hudson, Appan Thampuran's Bhutarayar, Venmani Mahan's Pooraprabandham etc.
Rahukalam, (2007: Sign Books, Thiruvananthapuram) is a collection of essays on Joseph Muliyil's Sukumari, Medieval Malayalam poetry, Asan's Duravastha, N. Prabhakaran's Bhutabhumi, poetry of Rafeeq Ahmed and Cervantes
Cervantes
-People:*Alfonso J. Cervantes , mayor of St. Louis, Missouri*Francisco Cervantes de Salazar, 16th-century man of letters*Ignacio Cervantes, Cuban composer*Jorge Cervantes, a world-renowned expert on indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse cannabis cultivation...
' Don Quixote
Forthcoming:
Chinthayude Mayalokangal(Kairali Books, Kannur)