Creative Involution

This book offers a philosophical exploration of literary influences, particularly focusing on Samuel Beckett's relationship with time, memory, and identity, as seen in Creative Involution.

The book Creative Involution delves into a rich philosophical trajectory that has significantly influenced critical thought throughout the 20th and into the 21st centuries. This exploration extends beyond academic discourse, impacting cosmopolitan contemporary culture and shaping artistic experimentation and expression. It highlights the intricate connections between philosophy and literature, particularly through the lens of Samuel Beckett's work.

In Creative Involution, the author examines how Beckett's writings engage with complex themes such as time, memory, and identity. These themes are portrayed as a 'double-headed monster' that reflects the ongoing interplay between being and becoming. The philosophical inquiries of Gilles Deleuze are also brought into the conversation, emphasizing an involutionary turn that deepens our understanding of these concepts in relation to Beckett's oeuvre.

Key features of this book include innovative critical approaches that revisit Bergson and Bergsonism, along with fresh analyses of lesser-known works within the Beckett canon. The text also addresses representation and Beckett's philosophical connections, while being attentive to the evolving discourse surrounding affect theory and literature. S. E. Gontarski, a distinguished academic in English, brings his expertise to this compelling examination of Beckett's legacy and its implications for contemporary thought.