The paper explores an ambiguous intersection between history and fiction in Scarlet Venice （Hi no Venezia, in original） （1988） by Japanese novelist and historiographer, Shiono Nanami （1937-）. As a prominent tran...The paper explores an ambiguous intersection between history and fiction in Scarlet Venice （Hi no Venezia, in original） （1988） by Japanese novelist and historiographer, Shiono Nanami （1937-）. As a prominent transnational writer who has worked on the Italian Renaissance and the Roman antiquity for about 40 years, Shiono fictionalizes the political culture of 16th century Venice in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean history. Based on her The Tales of the Sea Capital （1981）, historiography par excellence, the novel portrays the political maneuver of the Republic of Venice from viewpoints of diplomacy. With this thematic approach to history, the novel centers on the life and death of Alvise Gritti （1480-1534）, an illegitimate son of famed Venetian Doge, Andrea Gritti. In the metaphorical/metafictional structure of historical crime fiction, the novel unveils the austerity of Venetian polity, while contrasting it with the liberalism fostered in Sultan Suleiman＇s Ottoman court. In conclusion, the author interprets that Alvise Gritti is a victim of the political intricacy with which Venice was wrestling, implying that the republic is the metaphorical murderer. Whereas Alvise＇s death commemorates a drastic step taken by Venice for political negotiation, Shiono＇s recent writings suggest that Japan should model the rigid pragmatism in Venetian politics, along with its effective use of intelligence in diplomacy展开更多
In terms of translation theory today, the essential discussions of ＂otherness＂, coupled with the agenda of bilateral approaches to its untranslatability, are much more intense than ever. The stereotypical images of ...In terms of translation theory today, the essential discussions of ＂otherness＂, coupled with the agenda of bilateral approaches to its untranslatability, are much more intense than ever. The stereotypical images of Japan as something quite alien yet enchanting in Japanese literature, in The Tale of Genji for instance, are drastically different from those in modem novels, where the experience of conflicts with the West in the course of modernization could not be ignored. Shusaku Endo＇s Silence for example, paradoxically questions the translatability of Christianity in the historical context of the Japanese mind. By reading some translated texts of Japanese literature, we come to be aware of the essential factors of＂otherness＂ inherent in Japanese culture and language which, in some socio-cultural ways, has had an interesting effect on Japanese minds. With the growing interest in ＂world literature,＂ ＂otherness＂ and ＂untranslatability＂ illuminated in the translations of Japanese literature offer a new perspective with which we can re-think our sense of history of modernization on the one hand; and re-evaluate the uniqueness of Japanese language on the other. The remarkable influence of translators whose mother tongue is not Japanese, but who have an excellent command of the language, enables a new Japanese culture to emerge. This is evident in the works of Arthur Binard, an American poet and translator, who enthusiastically criticizes the Japanese policy of atomic energy in his translations of the Japanese poems after World War II, and in the very inspiring essays on Japanese by Roger Pulvers, an Australian writer and playwright who won prizes for his translations of Kenji Miyazawa. Along with such new trend of translations of Japanese literature, how it affects the Japanese mind will be discussed.展开更多
文摘The paper explores an ambiguous intersection between history and fiction in Scarlet Venice （Hi no Venezia, in original） （1988） by Japanese novelist and historiographer, Shiono Nanami （1937-）. As a prominent transnational writer who has worked on the Italian Renaissance and the Roman antiquity for about 40 years, Shiono fictionalizes the political culture of 16th century Venice in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean history. Based on her The Tales of the Sea Capital （1981）, historiography par excellence, the novel portrays the political maneuver of the Republic of Venice from viewpoints of diplomacy. With this thematic approach to history, the novel centers on the life and death of Alvise Gritti （1480-1534）, an illegitimate son of famed Venetian Doge, Andrea Gritti. In the metaphorical/metafictional structure of historical crime fiction, the novel unveils the austerity of Venetian polity, while contrasting it with the liberalism fostered in Sultan Suleiman＇s Ottoman court. In conclusion, the author interprets that Alvise Gritti is a victim of the political intricacy with which Venice was wrestling, implying that the republic is the metaphorical murderer. Whereas Alvise＇s death commemorates a drastic step taken by Venice for political negotiation, Shiono＇s recent writings suggest that Japan should model the rigid pragmatism in Venetian politics, along with its effective use of intelligence in diplomacy
文摘In terms of translation theory today, the essential discussions of ＂otherness＂, coupled with the agenda of bilateral approaches to its untranslatability, are much more intense than ever. The stereotypical images of Japan as something quite alien yet enchanting in Japanese literature, in The Tale of Genji for instance, are drastically different from those in modem novels, where the experience of conflicts with the West in the course of modernization could not be ignored. Shusaku Endo＇s Silence for example, paradoxically questions the translatability of Christianity in the historical context of the Japanese mind. By reading some translated texts of Japanese literature, we come to be aware of the essential factors of＂otherness＂ inherent in Japanese culture and language which, in some socio-cultural ways, has had an interesting effect on Japanese minds. With the growing interest in ＂world literature,＂ ＂otherness＂ and ＂untranslatability＂ illuminated in the translations of Japanese literature offer a new perspective with which we can re-think our sense of history of modernization on the one hand; and re-evaluate the uniqueness of Japanese language on the other. The remarkable influence of translators whose mother tongue is not Japanese, but who have an excellent command of the language, enables a new Japanese culture to emerge. This is evident in the works of Arthur Binard, an American poet and translator, who enthusiastically criticizes the Japanese policy of atomic energy in his translations of the Japanese poems after World War II, and in the very inspiring essays on Japanese by Roger Pulvers, an Australian writer and playwright who won prizes for his translations of Kenji Miyazawa. Along with such new trend of translations of Japanese literature, how it affects the Japanese mind will be discussed.
