- Title: Subtitle
- Misery punctum: a translation of Tor Ulven’s Consumption
- Creators
- Jordan Barger
- Contributors
- Jan Styen (Advisor)Aron Aji (Committee Member)Morten Schlutter (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Literary Translation
- Date degree season
- Spring 2024
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- DOI
- 10.25820/etd.007336
- Number of pages
- xxxi, 84 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2024 Jordan Barger
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 04/22/2024
- Description illustrations
- illustration
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (page 83-84).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Tor Ulven (1953-1995) was a Norwegian writer of 11 books. His work inspired a generation of Norwegian writers at the end of the 20th century. Known for his high level of precision and his discerning sensitivity, translating Tor Ulven represents a task of the tallest order for any translator of Norwegian. In this thesis, I offer a full translation of his book Fortaering: Prosastykker, here as Consumption: Prose Pieces. In my critical introduction, I trace my journey discovering Tor Ulven, his reception in Norway, compare his work to the great American writer Garielle Lutz, explain and demonstrate my theoretical framework for understanding translating Tor Ulven. Central to that framework is Roland Barthes’ punctum, useful for understanding the photographic qualities that characterize the prose pieces in Consumption. Beyond Tor Ulven himself, a major goal in my introduction is to celebrate the work of depressive writers of merciless realism. I see American parallels to Tor Ulven in the work of writers like Lorine Niedecker, Christine Schutt, and Garielle Lutz. I believe that Tor Ulven is a writer of the greatest caliber and that my translation shows exactly that.
- Academic Unit
- Translation
- Record Identifier
- 9984647453302771
Thesis
Misery punctum: a translation of Tor Ulven’s Consumption
University of Iowa
Master of Fine Arts (MFA), University of Iowa
Spring 2024
DOI: 10.25820/etd.007336
Barger_Misery Punctum_Translation MFA Thesis1.25 MB
Embargoed Access, Embargo ends: 07/01/2026
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