Cultural mélange in aesthetic practices

This book discusses cultural mélange in a variety of different textual and non-textual aesthetic practices within literature, theatre, and music.

The process of globalization has left no corner of the world untouched. Although many studies use postcolonial theory to understand its large-scale effects, the contributors to this book show how such theory can be drawn on for productive use also in other contexts, such as the Scandinavian. In doing so, they also rework the well-worn concept of “hybridity” to one of “cultural mélange”, creating a lens by which to take a broader view of the phenomenon: from Africa to Poland, from France to Norway, various forms of globalization processes have accelerated an interpenetration of cultures which takes place on a number of widely different cultural arenas.

Cultural and linguistic mixes are explored in a wide variety of areas, including “shotgun theatre”, travel literature, rap music, children’s literature, and, last but not least, Leonard Cohen’s songs. Often translation – either in a metaphorical or a non-metaphorical sense – is seen to play an essential part, and the processes of mixing and blending are rarely seen as something anyone is passively giving in to. There is always a strong sense of agency, even in “merely” responding. As such, this volume makes an important contribution to the sense of cultural mélange as a creative process that opens up to multiple forms of participation and positive change.

Annjo K. Greenall is professor of English language at the Department of Language and Literature, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Domhnall Mitchell is professor of English literature at the Department of Language and Literature, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.