Philippe Sollers' 'Discours parfait' as an Encyclopedic Comedy of Phrases
Published in 2010, Philippe Sollers' 'Discours parfait' comprises a series of essays, interviews, and texts integral to his expansive project. Jacques Henric shares his practice of documenting Sollers' spontaneous monologues, which he transcribed without alterations. Philippe Forest interprets the work as a 'Comédie de Phrases', linking it to Sollers' prior writings such as 'Éloge de l'Infini' and 'La Guerre du goût'. He posits that it acts as an 'encyclopedia of language' heralding a new Renaissance, countering dystopian perspectives. The book features discussions on numerous artists and intertwines fiction with non-fiction. Sollers perceives language as a dynamic system, casting the writer as an architect in the Comedy of Truth, emphasizing the relevance of his work today.
Key facts
- 'Discours parfait' is a 2010 book by Philippe Sollers.
- The book is a collection of texts, interviews, and essays.
- Jacques Henric describes recording interviews with Sollers over 40 years.
- Sollers would improvise monologues for over an hour, which Henric transcribed without editing.
- Philippe Forest analyzes the book as a 'Comédie de Phrases'.
- Forest invokes Roland Barthes' 1974 essay 'Situation' from Tel Quel issue 57.
- Barthes described Sollers' work as an 'encyclopedia of language'.
- Sollers states in the preface that the writings aim to prepare a Renaissance.
- The book includes texts on writers, musicians, and painters.
- Sollers' work blurs the distinction between fiction and non-fiction.
- Sollers cites Joyce and Rimbaud on language as a revolving mechanism.
- The article positions Sollers as an engineer or inventor at the center of a circular square stage.
Entities
Artists
- Philippe Sollers
- Jacques Henric
- Philippe Forest
- Roland Barthes
- James Joyce
- Arthur Rimbaud
- Dante Alighieri
- Marcel Proust
- Charles Baudelaire
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Louis-Ferdinand Céline
- Voltaire
- Saint-Simon
Institutions
- art press
- Tel Quel
- L'Infini
- La Closerie des Lilas
Locations
- Boulevard de Port Royal
- Paris
- France
Sources
- artpress —