Marie Redonnet critiques Houellebecq's postmodern barbarism
In a 1999 article for artpress, Marie Redonnet analyzes Michel Houellebecq's novel "Les Particules Élémentaires," arguing that it reveals a traditional conception of literature split between poetic prophecy and satirical sociology. She criticizes Houellebecq's complacent depiction of sexual neuroses and caricatural dramatic devices, viewing these as symptoms of a failure among post-May 1968 writers to transmit cultural benchmarks to the next generation.
Key facts
- Article published in artpress in March 1999
- Author: Marie Redonnet
- Subject: Michel Houellebecq's novel 'Les Particules Élémentaires'
- Redonnet identifies a traditional literary conception in the novel
- The novel combines poetic prophecy with satirical sociology
- Houellebecq is criticized for complacent expression of sexual neuroses
- Caricatural dramatic devices are noted as symptomatic of failure
- Failure attributed to post-May 1968 writers not transmitting benchmarks
Entities
Artists
- Marie Redonnet
- Michel Houellebecq
Institutions
- artpress
Sources
- artpress —