Conversations with Tyler Karl Ove Knausgård on Literary Freedom
May 8, 2019
Karl Ove Knausgård, a celebrated Norwegian author, dives into the quest for total freedom in writing. He discusses the essence of mimesis and its role in storytelling, reflecting on personal experiences that shape artistic expression. Knausgård shares insights from Ingmar Bergman’s workbooks and the parenting boost to his productivity. The conversation traverses themes of literature's intersection with anxiety, as embodied in Edvard Munch's 'The Scream', while exploring identity, cultural heritage, and the sanctity of autobiographical writing.
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Mimesis in Literature and Art
- Karl Ove Knausgård discusses mimesis on multiple levels, from learning storytelling through reading to unlearning preconceptions to access the world.
- He emphasizes the importance of finding a language for personal experience, as Edvard Munch did in painting.
Proust's Influence
- Knausgård describes being heavily influenced by Proust after reading him, unintentionally mimicking his style in a later novel.
- This exemplifies the subconscious absorption and later unintentional replication of literary styles.
Confessional Art
- Both Knausgård and Munch explore confessional art, seeking a language to express strong personal experiences.
- Munch's struggle to depict grief led him to break from existing artistic conventions.
