Dialogic Openness in Nikos Kazantzakis

Nikos Kazantzakis, the most widely translated author in Modern Greek Literature, is an author with substantial influence on the Hellenic and international scholarship and literary world. Moreover, his novels and ideas have been the object of fiery debates and controversies.
The book by upcoming scholar Dr. Charitini Christodoulou (PhD - Univ. of Birmingham, 2007), offers a new perspective into one of his most debated novels, The Last Temptation, suggesting a new analytical model for his work. Her interdisciplinary approach considers the text as an open vessel, welcoming new interpretation, rather than a closed literary work.

The book presentation, taking place at the ARTos Foundation on February 2nd, 2013 at 6:30pm, is aimed for individuals interested in Kazantzakis as an author and literary personae, as well as those with an eye out for cutting edge literary analysis. The evening will include a presentation of the book by the author, intervention by international literary scholars, readings of excerpts from the novel, in addition to a Q&A session at the end, offering opportunity for dialogue between Christodoulou and the audience.

In a brief description of her book, the author mentions:
"It is argued that a certain perception of openness that I call "dialogic” permeates Nikos Kazantzakis’ The Last Temptation. Partly based on Umberto Eco’s theory in Opera Aperta and Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of dialogism, the term "dialogic openness” refers to the idea of antithetical forces clashing and thus revealing different forms of tension that are not resolved at the end of the novel. Thus, it is shown that subjectivity and meaning is always in the process of becoming.

The different aspects of identity formation unfold before the eyes of the reader, who becomes a witness to the leading characters’ process of becoming. It is demonstrated that there are dialogic elements in tension, which can only be brought forth not as a synthesis, such as the stylistics of a genre implies, but as openness perceived as a process of identity formation.”

The book is published in English by Cambridge Scholars Publishing and is available for online order at www.amazon.com and www.c-s-p.org, as well at the Moufflon Bookstore, Sofouli Str., Nicosia (www.moufflon.com.cy)

The presentation is followed by a reception.