Silk and Potatoes: Contemporary Arthurian FantasyThis study constitutes the first to analyse the remarkable surge in popularity of Arthurian literature and art in the modern period from a broad range of instances of cultural production. More novels with Arthurian themes have been published since the war than in any previous period, and Silk and Potatoesprovides detailed readings of some of the most famous, including works by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Anthony Burgess, C.J. Cherryh, Guy Gavriel Kay, Mary Stewart, Jack Vance and T.H. White. In addition to examining Arthurian fiction (with chapters on the general novel, Historical fiction and Science Fiction), this study examines the key cinematic examples of Arthuriana (Boorman's Excalibur, Bresson's Lancelot du Lac, Rohmer's Perceval Le Galloisand Monthy Python and the Holy Grail). A further chapter goes on to look at the myriad other forms of cultural production based on Arthurian themes; from Bugs Bunny to Pop Music, from the Camelot of JFK to the British National Lottery. This is a study that touches on many aspects of Arthuriana whilst developing two connected arguments about (on the one hand) the necessary anachronism of any modern Arthurian Literature, and (on the other) the aesthetic-political implications of this literature's success. The whole, whilst rooted in the scholarly debates on the enduring appeal of King Arthur, is written in an accessible and entertaining style. It will be of interest to students and teachers of Arthurian literature, film and popular culture. |
Contents
Arthurian SF and Arthurian Fantasy | 67 |
Arthurian Comedy | 132 |
The Cultural Consumption of Arthur | 154 |
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Common terms and phrases
actually aesthetic alien anachronism archetypes armour Arthurian legends Arthurian myth Arthurian novels Attanasio's authenticity battle beauty becomes Book of Merlyn Bradley Bradley's Bresson Camelot castle Celt Celtic characters Christian cinematic colour comedy comic contemporary Arthurian fantasy Crystal Cave cultural Darkover Dhrun dragon English epic escape evil Excalibur fact fairy fascism figure film Fionavar Future King gender genre Guinevere Holy Grail imaginative instance Irish Jungian Kay's Keltiad King Arthur knights Last Enchantment literally lives Lyonesse magic Malory Matter of Britain medieval Merlin mirror Mists of Avalon modern Modred Morgaine movie Mythago Wood mythic narrative narrator nation Ninian Once and Future peasants Perceval perhaps perspective political Port Eternity potatoes Python quest reality realm Rohmer scene Science Fiction sense sexual silk sort Stewart's story surface sword T. H. White theme Tolkien tradition trilogy Unicorn Uther Vance's Welsh White wizard woman writers