Conversations on Kafka

Oxford University
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Conversations on Kafka

Oxford Humanities explores approaches to Kafka and his most famous story "The Metamorphosis" through interviews with world experts, to mark the centenary of his death. We cover how "The Metamorphosis" has itself been transformed into new forms like ballet, theatre and comic books; how Kafka’s work has been read, from ecological insights to questions of illness, humour, feminism or race; how writers from across the world have responded to him from J. M. Coetzee to the 'Brazilian Kafka' Clarice Lispector or Marie NDiaye; and finally how artists have 'written back' to Kafka from their own time and place from the Czech Republic, Spain or even a viral Facebook novel in Russia. For the curious, a reading list associated with this series is available on ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online) - see Related links. For more on Kafka, the 'Oxford Kafka24' podcast series (https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/oxford-kafka24) features lectures from across the University division, including a collective reading of 'Metamorphosis' with Lemn Sissay and Ben Okri, and talks on disability, discrimination, disease, insects and genetics.

Episodes

  1. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka’s Metamorphosis

    An in-depth exploration of the theme of transformation in Kafka's "The Metamorphosis". Why does Kafka's story still resonate today?

    22 min

  2. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Dancing "The Metamorphosis"

    One of the most striking transformations of Kafka's most famous story is into an acclaimed performance for the Royal Ballet. This podcast discusses how thinking about movement in the story and the ballet offer insights into Gregor Samsa's transformation and what it is to be human. Please note, the audio version of this podcast episode contains references to visual content. To access the video version on the University of Oxford Podcasts site use the Video button, or if you're listening on Apple Podcasts please search for the video version of the series.

    22 min

  3. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka and Humour

    Award-winning comedian David Baddiel discusses the kinds of humour that operate in Kafka and how laughter and nightmare are often closer than you think

    18 min

  4. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka and Comics

    Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" has been translated into many languages and forms. This podcast explores Peter Kuper's graphic novel. Remembering Kafka's famous interdiction on illustrating the insect, we ask what is revealed when one turns Kafka's most famous story into a comic. Please note, the audio version of this podcast episode contains references to visual content. To access the video version on the University of Oxford Podcasts site use the Video button, or if you're listening on Apple Podcasts please search for the video version of the series.

    20 min

  5. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka and Race

    The transformation that takes place in "The Metamorphosis" has been referenced in any number of recent works by writers that explore issues of race, otherness and power. This discussion asks why contemporary writers turn to Kafka to deal with a post-colonial legacy and focuses especially on French-Senegalese wrier Marie NDiyae.

    21 min

  6. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka and Ecology

    Although Kafka does not treat environmental issues directly, his work has much to say about time, scale, uncertainty, inside and out and ecology in a broader sense, along our own position in a fragile world.

    22 min

  7. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Kafka and Illness

    Using Kafka's "The Metamorphosis" as a starting point, this memoir of MS examines a range of lives and works to think through how illness challenges identity and how literature can help find a way through.

    17 min

  8. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    The Brazilian Kafka: Clarice Lispector

    Dubbed "the Brazilian Kafka", the writer Clarice Lispector wrote an experimental text that seems to echo the "Metamorphosis" in a number of ways. This podcast explores the links between Kafka's story and this radical, exploratory, feminine version and what it tells us also about Kafka's original.

    20 min

  9. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    J. M. Coetzee and Kafka

    Nobel-prize winning author J. M. Coetzee has continued to reflect on and respond to Kafka in different ways throughout his life and work. This podcast teases out the similarities and explores Coetzee's treatment of animals, time and his narrative of diminution.

    19 min

  10. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Two Czech Reflections on Greta Samsa

    The figure of the sister, Greta Samsa, in Kafka's story "The Metamorphosis" has fascinated writers and thinkers since the story was written. This podcast focuses on Czech literature to see how the sister has taken on a life of her own after Kafka, raising issues of feminism, politics and the fall of Communism.

    17 min

  11. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Writing Back: Spanish Literature

    Two important works of modern Spanish literature both take their cue from Kafka's letters to his companion, the Czech writer, journalist and translator Milena Jesenska. This podcast asks why these writers have turned to Kafka's "Letters to Milena" to explore themes of memory, loss and the post-Holocaust legacy in Spain.

    17 min

  12. JUN 3 · VIDEO

    Writing Back: Russian Literature

    Although Kafka and his work was frowned on behind the iron curtain, his works had a remarkable subterranean currency. This podcast takes its cue from Kafka's story "The Judgement" to discuss the "letters" written back to Kafka from today's Russia.

    17 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Oxford Humanities explores approaches to Kafka and his most famous story "The Metamorphosis" through interviews with world experts, to mark the centenary of his death. We cover how "The Metamorphosis" has itself been transformed into new forms like ballet, theatre and comic books; how Kafka’s work has been read, from ecological insights to questions of illness, humour, feminism or race; how writers from across the world have responded to him from J. M. Coetzee to the 'Brazilian Kafka' Clarice Lispector or Marie NDiaye; and finally how artists have 'written back' to Kafka from their own time and place from the Czech Republic, Spain or even a viral Facebook novel in Russia. For the curious, a reading list associated with this series is available on ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online) - see Related links. For more on Kafka, the 'Oxford Kafka24' podcast series (https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/oxford-kafka24) features lectures from across the University division, including a collective reading of 'Metamorphosis' with Lemn Sissay and Ben Okri, and talks on disability, discrimination, disease, insects and genetics.

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