51 min
Albert Camus - The Stranger - Episode 3 - The Absurdity Of A Happy Ending??? How To Love Lit Podcast
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Albert Camus - The Stranger - Episode 3 - The Absurdity Of A Happy Ending???
Hi, I’m Christy Shriver, and we’re here to discuss books that have changed the world and have changed us.
And I’m Garry Shriver, and this is the How to Love Lit Podcast. Today we finish up our three part series on Albert Camus’ class novella L’Etranger- translated in English to either The Stranger or The Outsider depending on which side of the Atlantic ocean you reside.
We talked extensively about problems with translation when we discussed Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey but it’s a subject that comes up anytime someone seeks to translate anything. How much of any translation is affected by the personal interpretation of the translator? Even in a book written so deliberately simple in its construction that most French 3 students can read it in French, the translation of this book has seen its share of controversy starting with the title, but extending to page after page. Let me give you an example from the first page and ending with the last page which we’ll discuss in full today. That famous first line that reads, “Aujourd’hui, maman est morte,”- aujourd-hui means today- est morte means is dead. That sounds pretty straightforward. But the problem is how you translate that second word- some translators translated it Mother; but others say if you do that you throw the entire book off- arguing it’s not today mother died. It’s today Mommy is dead. But maman isn’t exactly mommy, either- that’s too baby-ish- but it’s an English word with tenderness and mother is too sterile. Also, notice how we’ve also changed the ORDER of the words in English- and in a book so intent on using words so sparingly and deliberately do we miss the true impact of that first line by saying mother died versus mommy is dead?
Do you know what I have to say?
What?
It’s just absurd!!!
Yes, indeed, it’s all absurd! So absurd!! And yet it matters- which is the definition of absurd.
Well, I have a controversy to bring up in regard to mis-understanding and mis-representing Camus.
Oh really. What is it?
In 1976, the English rock band The Cure released it’s very first single and it was titled, “Killing an Arab”. The intent of the single was to reference and honor Camus’s novel. I want to read the lyrics and see, after reading part 1 of the novel, if you see the connection songwriter Robert Smith was making with Camus.
Standing on the beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the Arab on the ground I can see his open mouth But I hear no sound I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I can turn And walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I chose It amounts to the same Absolutely nothing
Well, from a literary perspective, it’s a fairly straightforward musical homage to not just the story The Stranger but it expresses Camus’ vision of the absurd- the indifference of the universe in the face of humanity.
I think so too; however, it was not universally well-received. The Cure were labeled as racist and have sometimes chosen to sing the song with revised lyrics of “Kissing an Arab”.
Hmmmm, to be honest, as I reread the those words with no context, even though, it’s a direct reference for sure, it most certainly would be misunderstood to anyone who hasn’t read the book The Stranger- which I’ll speak for Americans, but I don’t think most Americans have, to be honest.
No doubt. In fact, if you were to read just the title “Killing an Arab” on a Spotify or Apple song suggestion today, you likely would be emotionally triggered, especially if you are Middle-Eastern or have friends or professional acquaintances that are, which, today, most of us do. I don’t think it’s even arguab
Albert Camus - The Stranger - Episode 3 - The Absurdity Of A Happy Ending???
Hi, I’m Christy Shriver, and we’re here to discuss books that have changed the world and have changed us.
And I’m Garry Shriver, and this is the How to Love Lit Podcast. Today we finish up our three part series on Albert Camus’ class novella L’Etranger- translated in English to either The Stranger or The Outsider depending on which side of the Atlantic ocean you reside.
We talked extensively about problems with translation when we discussed Emily Wilson’s translation of the Odyssey but it’s a subject that comes up anytime someone seeks to translate anything. How much of any translation is affected by the personal interpretation of the translator? Even in a book written so deliberately simple in its construction that most French 3 students can read it in French, the translation of this book has seen its share of controversy starting with the title, but extending to page after page. Let me give you an example from the first page and ending with the last page which we’ll discuss in full today. That famous first line that reads, “Aujourd’hui, maman est morte,”- aujourd-hui means today- est morte means is dead. That sounds pretty straightforward. But the problem is how you translate that second word- some translators translated it Mother; but others say if you do that you throw the entire book off- arguing it’s not today mother died. It’s today Mommy is dead. But maman isn’t exactly mommy, either- that’s too baby-ish- but it’s an English word with tenderness and mother is too sterile. Also, notice how we’ve also changed the ORDER of the words in English- and in a book so intent on using words so sparingly and deliberately do we miss the true impact of that first line by saying mother died versus mommy is dead?
Do you know what I have to say?
What?
It’s just absurd!!!
Yes, indeed, it’s all absurd! So absurd!! And yet it matters- which is the definition of absurd.
Well, I have a controversy to bring up in regard to mis-understanding and mis-representing Camus.
Oh really. What is it?
In 1976, the English rock band The Cure released it’s very first single and it was titled, “Killing an Arab”. The intent of the single was to reference and honor Camus’s novel. I want to read the lyrics and see, after reading part 1 of the novel, if you see the connection songwriter Robert Smith was making with Camus.
Standing on the beach With a gun in my hand Staring at the sea Staring at the sand Staring down the barrel At the Arab on the ground I can see his open mouth But I hear no sound I'm alive I'm dead I'm the stranger Killing an Arab I can turn And walk away Or I can fire the gun Staring at the sky Staring at the sun Whichever I chose It amounts to the same Absolutely nothing
Well, from a literary perspective, it’s a fairly straightforward musical homage to not just the story The Stranger but it expresses Camus’ vision of the absurd- the indifference of the universe in the face of humanity.
I think so too; however, it was not universally well-received. The Cure were labeled as racist and have sometimes chosen to sing the song with revised lyrics of “Kissing an Arab”.
Hmmmm, to be honest, as I reread the those words with no context, even though, it’s a direct reference for sure, it most certainly would be misunderstood to anyone who hasn’t read the book The Stranger- which I’ll speak for Americans, but I don’t think most Americans have, to be honest.
No doubt. In fact, if you were to read just the title “Killing an Arab” on a Spotify or Apple song suggestion today, you likely would be emotionally triggered, especially if you are Middle-Eastern or have friends or professional acquaintances that are, which, today, most of us do. I don’t think it’s even arguab
51 min