Broken worlds in broken words: empty discourse on war in Israeli literature. Issue 5 (3rd September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Levin, Orna
• Is Part Of: Israel affairs. Volume 25:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 926
• Page End: 943
• Publication Date: 2019-09-03
• Subjects: Israeli literature -- Israeli wars -- discourse -- silence -- trauma; Israel -- History -- 1933- -- Periodicals; 956.94054
• DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2019.1645964
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-7121

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article addresses an unstudied literary discourse pattern in Israeli literature, which it terms an 'empty discourse' on Israeli wars, suggesting that they have become a simultaneously absent and present theme in Israeli literature. The analysis is based on Wittgenstein's philosophy of language, which serves to explain the mutual influence between the reality of war and war literature. Based on the literary analysis presented, the article suggests a wider typology for examining this issue in contemporary Israeli literature published after the 2006 Lebanon War.