Browsing by Author "Wiznura, Rob"
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Item Cutting into the abyss: the subtle knife as the pharmakon in Pullman's His Dark Materials(2013) Blomquist, Gregory; Thompson, William; Wiznura, RobThe Subtle Knife as the Pharmakon in Pullman's His Dark Materials In Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, the subtle knife (or Æsahættr, literally meaning "god-destroyer") is the most significant of the trilogy's three central instruments. It is both a tool and a weapon, a device which is capable of revealing the abyssal void between the parallel universes that combine to form Pullman's multiverse; and capable of repairing the damage done by the all-consuming nothingness it exposes. Almost counter-intuitive in nature, the tool aspect of the knife creates the negative consequences of its use, whereas the weapon aspect of the knife comes to signify the positive consequences of its use. Having the potential for both good and evil, construction and destruction, I argue the subtle knife is the pharmakon of Pullman's trilogy. Originally a term referred to by Jacques Derrida, the pharmakon is a paradoxical aspect of being both the poison and the cure, or a dissembler of binaries. The pharmakon does not represent evil anymore than it represents good; it is purely neutral and thus a neutralizing agent. [Honours thesis]Item The ponderings of a poet: architecture as representative of an author's concerns in Geoffrey Chaucer's House of Fame(2013) Spies, McKenzie; Farvolden, Pam; Wiznura, RobOne of Geoffrey Chaucer 's most well-known dream visions, The House of Fame, abounds with allusions to the concerns that writers must wrestle with at some point during their careers. Throughout the work, Chaucer discusses the purpose of writing, the value of poetry, and the worthiness of fame, but perhaps his biggest concerns lie among the questions of the future: Should he embark on a new trail of topics for his writing rather than traverse the worn road of love from his writing predecessors? How long, if at all, will his works last into the future? What can one do to make his work stand the test of time? Chaucer's pondering of these concerns is evident throughout the entirety of The House of Fame, but they are most prevalent in Book III, consisting of his attendance in the houses of Fame and Rumour. [Honours thesis]