Internationale Neerlandistiek - Volume 49, Nummer 1, 2011

‘Comic version offers new insights’ – with these words the Stichting Beeldverhaal Nederland acclaimed the publication of Dick Matena’s comic version of De avonden, incorporating the complete text of the novel. But what actually is the benefit of Matena’s approach? In this paper I will investigate how the comic artist has translated Reve’s style into images, paying special attention to visual focalisation techniques. Several examples shall illustrate by which techniques certain themes (monotony, isolation, repressed sexuality) are evoked without being actually depicted. What the text leaves unsaid, is evoked on the panels by means of e.g. layout, colouring, pictorial composition, camera angle, field size, absence of mimicry and (physical as well as eye) contact.

There is, however, one theme which is indeed depicted, namely vision. Whereas the novel can only describe observation, in the comic it can be actually shown. The reader is at the same time a viewer: he watches the protagonist and at the same time literally shares his view. In this way the viewer gets himself involved in the story and thus in a way satisfies the desire of the protagonist to be ‘seen’. The images thus not only repeat or supplement the message of the text, but also provide an additional semantic value.

This paper consists of two parts. In the first part, an attempt will be made to define ‘rude language’ in a such way that it discerns itself from other types of negative language use. This definition uses concepts such as register, informalisation, appreciation, intensification and dysfemy. Possible problems with this definition are discussed with existing examples of ‘rude language’.

The second part of this paper explores to what extent the proposed definition can be used in empirical research. In a first survey after the effects of rude language, respondents have been asked their opinions about neutral or rude versions of (fictitious) newspaper items about political proposals. Results show that judgment is not related to personal traits such as age, gender, or political colour. Rude language does not affect the attitude towards the political proposal, but the proposing politician is perceived as less competent and attractive. Furthermore, it is judged as being less appropriate but more attractive than neutral language. This first experiment provides impetus for future research based on the proposed definition of rude language.

The return of the relics of Napoleon to Paris (1840) gave rise to a critical debate in the Netherlands. In general the Dutch did approach the French veneration of Bonaparte in a skeptical way, although authors like Van der Hoop and Potgieter more or less sympathised with the French Napoleoncult. In this article the debate is analysed against the background of the relation between Dutch and French culture. Nationalistic, religious and cosmopolitan sentiments are interpreted in connection to the development of Pascale Casanova’s ‘world republic of letters’.

Hoe gaat het met de literatuurwetenschap in Nederland en Vlaanderen? Goed, hoewel de literatuurwetenschap niet bestaat. Er zijn veel uiteenlopende varianten en die floreren zelfs in een klein taalgebied als dat van ons. Dat zou de al te korte samenvatting kunnen zijn van Tijding en tendens: Literatuurwetenschap in de Nederlanden. Het boek bevat negen teksten die in de inleiding met elkaar verbonden worden door hun ontstaanscontext (een congres in Leuven), hun centrale vraagstelling (hoe zit het met de eigenheid van de Nederlandstalige literatuurwetenschap én met haar verhouding tot de buitenlandse tradities?) en hun positie op het continuüm tussen literatuurwetenschap (theorie) en literatuurkritiek (praktijk).