METAFICTIONAL SELF-REFLEXIVITY IN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: A NOVEL

Şule Özün

Article Details

METAFICTIONAL SELF-REFLEXIVITY IN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: A NOVEL

Authors:

Şule Özün

Publisher:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 42, pp.66-82

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342256

pISSN:

2147-2610

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Metafiction is the term applied to a certain type of fiction, or tendency in literature, which started with French literary experimentalism in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1970s. Metafiction is used to describe fiction that critically examines the relationship between reality and fiction, highlights its own formal elements, and calls attention to its own status as a work of art. Raymond Federman chooses to call this very unusual style surfiction, and in his novel, To Whom It May Concern: A Novel, he blurs the lines between reality and fiction himself. Federmans novel is a notable postmodern work that exemplifies metafictional self-reflexivity techniques. The novel is particularly characterized by its self-awareness, emphasized through overt references to the storytelling process to such an extent that the narrative itself remains of secondary importance. He defies conventionally accepted and expected narrative forms in the novel by not providing the traditional reader with what they are prepared to receive. By focusing on the process of creating a story rather than the story itself, the novel loudly announces its fictiveness. This article aims to explore how the novel uses metafictional self-reflexivity in order to challenge traditional conventions of fiction. Through close textual analysis, this study takes a close look at the techniques Federman engages in throughout the novel such as innovative use of typography, direct address to the reader, and non-linear narrative structure, along with many other digressing methods. The findings suggest that the novel, with Federmans self-reflexive techniques, serves as a notable example of self-aware fiction and unconventional storytelling, establishing itself a distinctive seat in metafictional writing. While the study is limited to this particular work, it contributes to broader discussions on metafiction and postmodern narrative strategies.

 Metafiction is the term applied to a certain type of fiction, or tendency in literature, which started with French literary experimentalism in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1970s. Metafiction is used to describe fiction that critically examines the relationship between reality and fiction, highlights its own formal elements, and calls attention to its own status as a work of art. Raymond Federman chooses to call this very unusual style surfiction, and in his novel, To Whom It May Concern: A Novel, he blurs the lines between reality and fiction himself. Federmans novel is a notable postmodern work that exemplifies metafictional self-reflexivity techniques. The novel is particularly characterized by its self-awareness, emphasized through overt references to the storytelling process to such an extent that the narrative itself remains of secondary importance. He defies conventionally accepted and expected narrative forms in the novel by not providing the traditional reader with what they are prepared to receive. By focusing on the process of creating a story rather than the story itself, the novel loudly announces its fictiveness. This article aims to explore how the novel uses metafictional self-reflexivity in order to challenge traditional conventions of fiction. Through close textual analysis, this study takes a close look at the techniques Federman engages in throughout the novel such as innovative use of typography, direct address to the reader, and non-linear narrative structure, along with many other digressing methods. The findings suggest that the novel, with Federmans self-reflexive techniques, serves as a notable example of self-aware fiction and unconventional storytelling, establishing itself a distinctive seat in metafictional writing. While the study is limited to this particular work, it contributes to broader discussions on metafiction and postmodern narrative strategies.

 Metafiction is the term applied to a certain type of fiction, or tendency in literature, which started with French literary experimentalism in the 1950s and reached its peak in the 1970s. Metafiction is used to describe fiction that critically examines the relationship between reality and fiction, highlights its own formal elements, and calls attention to its own status as a work of art. Raymond Federman chooses to call this very unusual style surfiction, and in his novel, To Whom It May Concern: A Novel, he blurs the lines between reality and fiction himself. Federmans novel is a notable postmodern work that exemplifies metafictional self-reflexivity techniques. The novel is particularly characterized by its self-awareness, emphasized through overt references to the storytelling process to such an extent that the narrative itself remains of secondary importance. He defies conventionally accepted and expected narrative forms in the novel by not providing the traditional reader with what they are prepared to receive. By focusing on the process of creating a story rather than the story itself, the novel loudly announces its fictiveness. This article aims to explore how the novel uses metafictional self-reflexivity in order to challenge traditional conventions of fiction. Through close textual analysis, this study takes a close look at the techniques Federman engages in throughout the novel such as innovative use of typography, direct address to the reader, and non-linear narrative structure, along with many other digressing methods. The findings suggest that the novel, with Federmans self-reflexive techniques, serves as a notable example of self-aware fiction and unconventional storytelling, establishing itself a distinctive seat in metafictional writing. While the study is limited to this particular work, it contributes to broader discussions on metafiction and postmodern narrative strategies.

 Üst kurguüst kurmaca, 1950lerde Fransız edebi deneyselciliğiyle başlayıp 1970lerde zirveye ulaşan bir kurgu türü veya edebiyat eğilimi için kullanılan bir terimdir. Üstkurmaca, gerçeklik ile kurgu arasındaki ilişkiyi eleştirel bir şekilde inceleyen, kendi biçimsel unsurlarını öne çıkaran ve bir sanat eseri olarak kendi statüsüne dikkat çeken kurgu türünü tanımlamak için kullanılır. Raymond Federman bu alışılmadık tarzı surfiction yüzeysel kurgu olarak adlandırmakta ve To Whom It May Concern: A Novel İlgili Kişiye: Bir Roman adlı romanında gerçeklik ile kurgu arasındaki çizgileri bulanıklaştırmaktadır. Federmanın bu romanı üstkurgusal kendini yansıtma teknikleri örnekleyen dikkat çekici bir postmodern çalışmadır. Romanda sıkça öyküanlatım sürecine doğrudan göndermeler yapılmaktadır. Öyle ki bu durum, anlatının kendisini dahi ikincil bir konuma iter. Roman, net bir şekilde vurgulanan bu öz farkındalıkla karakterize edilir. Yazar, geleneksel okuyucunun alışık olduğu üslubu onlara sunmayarak kabul görmüş anlatı biçimlerine meydan okur. Roman, hikâyeden ziyade hikâye oluşturma sürecine odaklanarak kurmaca olduğunu açıkça ilan eder. Bu makale, romanın üstkurmacaya özgü kendini yansıtma yöntemlerinden faydalanarak geleneksel kurgu normlarına nasıl meydan okuduğunu incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, yakın metin analizi yöntemini kullanarak Federmanın romanda sergilediği yenilikçi tipografi kullanımı, okuyucuya doğrudan hitap etme ve doğrusal olmayan anlatı yapılandırması gibi teknikleri ile beraber diğer birçok anlatıdan sapma metodlarını ele almaktadır. Çalışmanın bulguları göstermektedir ki, Federmanın kendini yansıtma teknikleri sayesinde roman, özbilinçli bir kurgu örneği teşkil etmektedir. Bu sayede, geleneksel olmayan bir anlatı olarak üstkurmaca yazınında kendine özgü bir yer edinmiştir. Çalışma her ne kadar söz konusu eserle sınırlı olsa da, üstkurmaca ve postmodern anlatı stratejileri üzerine yapılan daha geniş tartışmalara katkıda bulunmaktadır.

Article Details

METAFICTIONAL SELF-REFLEXIVITY IN TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: A NOVEL

Authors:

Şule Özün

Publisher:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 42, pp.66-82

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342256

pISSN:

2147-2610

Self-reflexive

Metafictional

Postmodern Novel

Federman

TypographyFederman

Üstkurmaca

Özdüşünümsel

Tipograf

Postmodern Roman

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Şule Özün

Publisher: Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Main Topics: Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal: Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 42, pp.66-82

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 2/2025

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001342256

pISSN: 2147-2610

Issues

Authors:

Şule Özün

Publisher:

Ayla KAŞOĞLU

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi Vol.13 Issue 42, pp.66-82

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

2/2025

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001342256

pISSN:

2147-2610