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Vesa Matteo Piludu

Introduction to Semiotics of Cultures, 2010 Juri Lotman – Universe of the Mind Chapter 7 - Symbols Case study Dostoevsky’s The Idiot (1868 -1869). Vesa Matteo Piludu. University of Helsinki. Dostoevsky’s The Idiot (1868 -1869). Complicate symbolism Criminal trials as symptoms and symbols

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Vesa Matteo Piludu

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  1. Introduction to Semiotics of Cultures, 2010Juri Lotman – Universe of the MindChapter 7 - SymbolsCase studyDostoevsky’sThe Idiot (1868 -1869) Vesa Matteo Piludu University of Helsinki

  2. Dostoevsky’sThe Idiot (1868 -1869) • Complicate symbolism • Criminal trials as symptoms and symbols • But the symbolism is more subtitle: there is a mystery and is expressed the impossibility to express thing precisely, as in a documentary • The reality is interpreted not with realism but as a metaphorical plot, full of symbols that should be interpreted • The word doesn’t describe things, but allude to more deep concepts

  3. Dostoevsky’sThe IdiotHyppolite’s inexpressible symbolism • Hyppolite • In every idea of genius or in every new human idea, or, more simply still, in every serious human idea born in anyone’s brain, there is something that cannot possibly conveyed to others, thought you wrote volumes about it and spent thirty-five years in explaining your idea; • Something will always be left that will obstinately refuse to emerge from your head

  4. The Idiotand romantic symbolism • In Hyppolite’s there is a clear reference to the romantic concept of the inexpressible truth • The language and the meaning are always inadeguate • The truth could be understood only by approximation, allusions by the interpretation of symbols

  5. Baratynsky from Complete Poetry • The word for Baratynsky • Alien to plain meaning • For me is a symbol • Of Feelings for which • I have not found expression in languages

  6. The Idiot • Also the characters are symbols (name, identifying marks) • According to Lotman • NastasyaFilipovna • is a character based on the La Dame aux Camélias • And also to Susanna and the elders • Rembrandt in the Dresden Gallery, visited by Dostoevsky

  7. La Dame aux Camélias • novel by Alexandre Dumas • Adapted for stages, films, ballets • "woman with a past" • Influenced Verdi’s Traviata

  8. Lady with the Camelias

  9. Mucha’s version

  10. Italian film (Mauro Bolognini)

  11. Ballet

  12. Nastasya Filipovna Tragic heroine in Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel The Idiot. • daughter of an aristocrat with no money • still a young child, falls under the "protection" of a rich rogue named Totski. • she had suitable private education • As she grows older, Totski visits her only occasionally on the estate where he has left her • it seems likely that during this time Nastasyawas coerced into the position of a kept woman by Totski • Totski married another woman and hopes to satisfy her by giving her an apartment in St. Petersburg

  13. Following adventures • Tragic finale, after various adventures with PrinceMyshkin and Rogozhin • Nastasya, refuses Myshkin, claiming that she cannot 'ruin him,' and tells the company that she will marry Rogozhin. • Myshkin tries again to save her from the fate that she feels she deserves, telling her: • "You're so awfully unhappy that you really think you are yourself to blame... I- I shall respect you all my life, NastasyaFilippovna."

  14. Nastasya Filippovna: A Woman Scorned by Nicola Smith • From the beginning of Part One, NastasyaFilippovna appears to be a fascinating, wild creature who is rebelling against the "natural” role of woman for her time. • The shock and scandal that seems to surround her exploits suggests that her actions are not within the confines of her "role". • However, the more we come to know her the more we see that she has been exploited by society of the time and the men that surround her and desire to possess her. • Unable to stand up under the destructive forces that surrounded her, the strongest, most promising character was reduced to insanity by Dostoyevsky. It seems that he may sympathize with her situation, given the use of word choice we have seen, and even some of the ironic, yet sad depiction of a young girl violated. • Filippovna must die to escape the tragic and unjust plight of a woman scorned.

  15. Nastasya Filippovna. Illustration for F. Dostoyevsky’s novel “The Idiot.” 1956

  16. 1647 Rembrandt - Susanna und die beiden Alten

  17. Susanna and the elders

  18. Susanna and the Elders by Alessandro Allori

  19. Susanna and the Elders by Jan van Noordt

  20. Susanna and the Eldersby Artemisia Gentileschi

  21. Symbol and artistic inspiration • The symbol accumulate and organize new experience around previous symbols and signs, it turns into a memory condenser • Future authors could selectively combine elements of symbols (Lady of Camelias, Susanna or Nastasya) to build up other plots (ballets, films)

  22. Symbol • Can be expressed in synchronic verbal-visual forms which can be projected onto various texts or transformed under the influence or texts and authors

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