Teaching Canada Teaching Canada through Short Fictionthrough Short Fiction

Nationaal Congres Engels Nationaal Congres Engels 20112011

Hans Bak Hans Bak

Conny Steenman-MarcusseConny Steenman-Marcusse

From: W.J. Keith, From: W.J. Keith, Canadian Literature in EnglishCanadian Literature in English (1985)(1985)

““Canada. A country stretching over 3,000 miles (some 5,500 Canada. A country stretching over 3,000 miles (some 5,500 kilometers) from east to west and sometimes extending almost kilometers) from east to west and sometimes extending almost 3,000 miles from south to north, though most of its northern 3,000 miles from south to north, though most of its northern lands are unsettled and uninhabitable. In area the second lands are unsettled and uninhabitable. In area the second largest country in the world, with a population less than half largest country in the world, with a population less than half that of the United Kingdom. A country with two official that of the United Kingdom. A country with two official languages, English and French, and many unofficial. A country languages, English and French, and many unofficial. A country that shares its vast east-west boundary with an English-that shares its vast east-west boundary with an English-speaking, culturally aggressive nation-state boasting almost speaking, culturally aggressive nation-state boasting almost ten times its population. A country in which the native peoples ten times its population. A country in which the native peoples (Indian and Inuit) now constitute less than 2 percent of its total (Indian and Inuit) now constitute less than 2 percent of its total inhabitants. A country of close to 4 million square miles in inhabitants. A country of close to 4 million square miles in which over three-quarters of the population live in towns and which over three-quarters of the population live in towns and cities. A country which began to come together as a stable cities. A country which began to come together as a stable political unit in 1867 and whose present boundaries were political unit in 1867 and whose present boundaries were established as recently as 1949. A country whose written established as recently as 1949. A country whose written history spans no more than 500 years (John Cabot entered the history spans no more than 500 years (John Cabot entered the Gulf of St Lawrence in 1497), and whose English literary Gulf of St Lawrence in 1497), and whose English literary tradition can be traced back no further than the middle of the tradition can be traced back no further than the middle of the eighteenth century.”eighteenth century.”

Canada vs USCanada vs US ambivalence: admiration vs suspicionambivalence: admiration vs suspicion admiration: American dynamism, power, admiration: American dynamism, power,

technological achievement technological achievement suspicion: economic, cultural, political dominance/ suspicion: economic, cultural, political dominance/

imperialism; US arrogance, moral self-righteousnessimperialism; US arrogance, moral self-righteousness reputedly: Canadian more cautious, timid, less reputedly: Canadian more cautious, timid, less

given to wild, risky experimentationgiven to wild, risky experimentation national myths & ideals: “life, liberty and the pursuit national myths & ideals: “life, liberty and the pursuit

of happiness” vs Canadian Confederation: “peace, of happiness” vs Canadian Confederation: “peace, order, good government”order, good government”

American West vs Canadian North: cowboy vs RCMPAmerican West vs Canadian North: cowboy vs RCMP Molson Canadian Beer: Molson Canadian Beer: http://http://

www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg=BRI-A3vakVg

diminishing political dependence on GB vs growing economic diminishing political dependence on GB vs growing economic dependence on USdependence on US

impulse to resist cultural infiltration of US norms & fashionsimpulse to resist cultural infiltration of US norms & fashions Cf anti-Americanism (early Atwood)Cf anti-Americanism (early Atwood) Canadian critics of US culture & politics: Marshall McLuhan, Canadian critics of US culture & politics: Marshall McLuhan,

Northrop Frye, George GrantNorthrop Frye, George Grant Canada: voice of conscience & critiqueCanada: voice of conscience & critique David Staines: Canada as “the dispassionate witness”David Staines: Canada as “the dispassionate witness” ““Flight to Canada” [underground railroad; Vietnam]Flight to Canada” [underground railroad; Vietnam] Canadians on America (Rick Mercer, “Talking to Americans”) Canadians on America (Rick Mercer, “Talking to Americans”)

vs Americans on Canadians (Michael Moore, vs Americans on Canadians (Michael Moore, Canadian BaconCanadian Bacon) ) Canadian humor, self-irony:Canadian humor, self-irony: Arrogant Worms: Arrogant Worms: http://http://www.youtube.comwww.youtube.com//watchwatch

?v=I49PI_MbNKI?v=I49PI_MbNKI

Canada and Great BritainCanada and Great Britain traditionally a close relationshiptraditionally a close relationship in wake of American Revolution: massive influx of 30,000 in wake of American Revolution: massive influx of 30,000

United Empire Loyalists into CanadaUnited Empire Loyalists into Canada embrace of British cultural heritage as way of resisting US embrace of British cultural heritage as way of resisting US

cultural dominancecultural dominance contrastive development: in US political independence was contrastive development: in US political independence was

incentive to quest for cultural and literary autonomy vs incentive to quest for cultural and literary autonomy vs English-speaking Canada: chose to remain under wings of English-speaking Canada: chose to remain under wings of mother country mother country

colonial mentality persisted into 20th century (until after colonial mentality persisted into 20th century (until after WWII, 1960s)WWII, 1960s)

in literary terms: persistence of traditional literary forms in literary terms: persistence of traditional literary forms (prairie-realism, regionalism); (prairie-realism, regionalism);

Modernism (1910s-1920s) Modernism (1910s-1920s) in Canadian literature: 1940s- in Canadian literature: 1940s-1950s1950s

Postmodernism (1960s-1970s in US) Postmodernism (1960s-1970s in US) massive eruption of massive eruption of pm in CanLit from 1980s to presentpm in CanLit from 1980s to present

Canada as colonial backwater Canada as colonial backwater expatriationexpatriation

Mavis Gallant (France)Mavis Gallant (France)

Mordecai RichlerMordecai Richler(England)(England)

Margaret Laurence Margaret Laurence (Africa)(Africa)

Mordecai Richler on his period of expatriation in England Mordecai Richler on his period of expatriation in England

(1954-1972)(1954-1972) ““[I felt] foolishly convinced [I felt] foolishly convinced

that merely by quitting the that merely by quitting the country, I could put my country, I could put my picayune past behind me. Like picayune past behind me. Like many of my contemporaries, I many of my contemporaries, I was mistakenly charged with was mistakenly charged with scorn for all things Canadian. scorn for all things Canadian. For the truth is, if we were For the truth is, if we were indeed hemmed in by the indeed hemmed in by the boring, the inane and the boring, the inane and the absurd, we foolishly blamed it absurd, we foolishly blamed it all on Canada, failing to grasp all on Canada, failing to grasp that we would suffer from a that we would suffer from a surfeit of the boring, the inane surfeit of the boring, the inane and absurd wherever we and absurd wherever we eventually settled and would eventually settled and would carry Canada with us carry Canada with us everywhere for good everywhere for good measure.” measure.”

practical & economic obstacles practical & economic obstacles colonial mentality colonial mentality no need for native no need for native

Canadian books, no book production Canadian books, no book production industry, no marketing facilities, no industry, no marketing facilities, no sustaining sense of audiencesustaining sense of audience

international literary market dominated by international literary market dominated by British & American authorsBritish & American authors

novels with Canadian themes & characters novels with Canadian themes & characters considered quaintly exotic & charmingly considered quaintly exotic & charmingly oddodd

the flowering of Canadian the flowering of Canadian literature, 1970s - literature, 1970s -

by 1970s colonial mentality shed by 1970s colonial mentality shed powerful injections by Canada Council for powerful injections by Canada Council for

the Arts the Arts promotional tours promotional tours by 1970s possible to be writers in Canadaby 1970s possible to be writers in Canada sense of Canadian “usable” past and sense of Canadian “usable” past and

literary tradition to build on or rejectliterary tradition to build on or reject since 1970s: multiplicy of highly since 1970s: multiplicy of highly

individualized voicesindividualized voices from “colonial” to “national” (“post-from “colonial” to “national” (“post-

colonial”) to “global village” colonial”) to “global village” (“transcultural”/ “transnational”) (“transcultural”/ “transnational”)

Margaret Atwood, Margaret Atwood, Survival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian LiteratureSurvival: A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature (1972)(1972)

The central symbol for Canada […] is The central symbol for Canada […] is undoubtedly Survival, la Survivance. Like undoubtedly Survival, la Survivance. Like the Frontier and The Island, it is a multi-the Frontier and The Island, it is a multi-faceted and adaptable idea. For early faceted and adaptable idea. For early explorers and settlers, it meant bare explorers and settlers, it meant bare survival in the face of "hostile" elements survival in the face of "hostile" elements and/or natives: carving out a place and a and/or natives: carving out a place and a way of keeping alive. But the word can way of keeping alive. But the word can also suggest survival of a crisis or also suggest survival of a crisis or disaster, like a hurricane or a wreck, and disaster, like a hurricane or a wreck, and many Canadian poems have this kind of many Canadian poems have this kind of survival as a theme; what you might call survival as a theme; what you might call 'grim' survival as opposed to 'bare' 'grim' survival as opposed to 'bare' survival. For French Canada after the survival. For French Canada after the English took over it became cultural English took over it became cultural survival, hanging on as a people, survival, hanging on as a people, retaining a religion and a language under retaining a religion and a language under an alien government. And in English an alien government. And in English Canada now while the Americans are Canada now while the Americans are taking over it is acquiring a similar taking over it is acquiring a similar meaning. There is another use of the meaning. There is another use of the word as well: a survival can be a vestige word as well: a survival can be a vestige of a vanished order which has managed of a vanished order which has managed to persist after its time is past, like a to persist after its time is past, like a primitive reptile. This version crops up in primitive reptile. This version crops up in Canadian thinking too, usually among Canadian thinking too, usually among those who believe that Canada is those who believe that Canada is obsolete. obsolete.

Canadian identityCanadian identity self-definition over against US and GBself-definition over against US and GB in cultural limbo between GB (history, in cultural limbo between GB (history,

tradition) vs US (present, future; tradition) vs US (present, future; materialism, technology)materialism, technology)

uncertain cultural identityuncertain cultural identity ““Canadians have no alternative but to insist Canadians have no alternative but to insist

on what they are not rather than what they on what they are not rather than what they are . … Psychologically, we are indisputably are . … Psychologically, we are indisputably an American people; at the same time, we an American people; at the same time, we are anxious to distinguish ourselves from are anxious to distinguish ourselves from those whom the rest of the world those whom the rest of the world recognizes as recognizes as thethe American people.” (W. American people.” (W. Keith)Keith)

““... first, Canada and the ... first, Canada and the U.S. have diverged to the U.S. have diverged to the point where it’s no longer point where it’s no longer true to say that we’re true to say that we’re essentially the same thing. essentially the same thing. … Secondly, as a result of … Secondly, as a result of divergence between divergence between Canada and the U.S., Canada and the U.S., we’ve reached the point as we’ve reached the point as Canadians where we no Canadians where we no longer define ourselves longer define ourselves against Americans. … We against Americans. … We confidently stand for a set confidently stand for a set of values on which we of values on which we agree on all the big points, agree on all the big points, but quibble over the little but quibble over the little ones.” (Douglas Coupland)ones.” (Douglas Coupland)

““Canada is a fiction, a Canada is a fiction, a make-believe nation. … We make-believe nation. … We have a few precious have a few precious sacraments: our health care, sacraments: our health care, our hockey, our beer, our our hockey, our beer, our news. But as much as we news. But as much as we might like our country, we might like our country, we don’t don’t lovelove it, at least not it, at least not with the Biblical devotion with the Biblical devotion that seems hard-wired into that seems hard-wired into the American psyche. … We’ the American psyche. … We’ re not just post-colonial, re not just post-colonial, we’re a post-modern nation we’re a post-modern nation held together by speculative held together by speculative patriotism, a country forever patriotism, a country forever trying to make cultural ends trying to make cultural ends meet as it debates its own meet as it debates its own existence. A necessary existence. A necessary fiction.” (Brian D. Johnson)fiction.” (Brian D. Johnson)

It seems to me that the It seems to me that the Canadian sensibility has Canadian sensibility has been profoundly been profoundly disturbed, not so much disturbed, not so much by our famous problem by our famous problem of identity, important as of identity, important as that is, as by a series of that is, as by a series of paradoxes in what paradoxes in what confronts that identity. confronts that identity. It is less perplexed by It is less perplexed by the question “Who Am the question “Who Am I?” than by some such I?” than by some such riddle as “Where is riddle as “Where is here?”here?”

Northrop Frye, 1965 Northrop Frye, 1965

Clark Blaise:Clark Blaise:

““Sociologically, I am an Sociologically, I am an American. Psychologically, American. Psychologically, a Canadian. Sentimentally, a Canadian. Sentimentally, a Québécois. By marriage, a Québécois. By marriage, part of the Third World. My part of the Third World. My passport says Canadian, passport says Canadian, but I was born in America; but I was born in America; my legal status says my legal status says immigrant. Resident Alien. immigrant. Resident Alien. Everywhere I see dualities. Everywhere I see dualities. The continent of gringos, The continent of gringos, everything north of the Rio everything north of the Rio Grande, is sliced in half, Grande, is sliced in half, and I occupy both sides and I occupy both sides uneasily.” [Intro to uneasily.” [Intro to Resident AlienResident Alien, 1986], 1986]

Michael Ondaatje:Michael Ondaatje:

““Canada offers Ondaatje a Canada offers Ondaatje a geography but no geography but no inheritance; Sri Lanka inheritance; Sri Lanka offers him a family history, offers him a family history, but no tradition, no way of but no tradition, no way of passing things on; the passing things on; the English language offers English language offers him both an inheritance him both an inheritance and a history, but no time and a history, but no time and place.”and place.”J.E. Chamberlin, in: Sam J.E. Chamberlin, in: Sam Solecki, ed., Solecki, ed., Spider Blues: Spider Blues: Essays on Michael Essays on Michael OndaatjeOndaatje (1985) (1985)

Who qualifies as a Canadian writer?Who qualifies as a Canadian writer? Malcolm Lowry? Jack Kerouac? Wallace Stegner? Saul Malcolm Lowry? Jack Kerouac? Wallace Stegner? Saul

Bellow? Carol Shields? Bharati Mukherjee? Rohinton Mistry? Bellow? Carol Shields? Bharati Mukherjee? Rohinton Mistry? Yann Martel?Yann Martel?

Which Canada?Which Canada? A confederation of widely divergent regions uneasily bound A confederation of widely divergent regions uneasily bound

together together “CanLit” a confederation of regional literatures “CanLit” a confederation of regional literatures uneasily grouped under one banner?uneasily grouped under one banner?

Split loyalties: region vs nationSplit loyalties: region vs nation Eastern vs western Canada: center vs marginEastern vs western Canada: center vs margin Geographically, politically, economically and ethnicallyGeographically, politically, economically and ethnically Anglo-Canadian canon vs peripheral voices claiming acces Anglo-Canadian canon vs peripheral voices claiming acces

to centerto center A precarious sense of “unity” A precarious sense of “unity” Canada as postmodern Canada as postmodern

nation par excellence (“a necessary fiction”)nation par excellence (“a necessary fiction”)

From bi-cultural Canada …From bi-cultural Canada …

Anglophone versus Francophone Canada:Anglophone versus Francophone Canada: Hugh MacLennan: “Two Solitudes” (1945)Hugh MacLennan: “Two Solitudes” (1945) Frank R. Scott, “Bonne Entente”:Frank R. Scott, “Bonne Entente”:

The advantages of living with two culturesThe advantages of living with two cultures

Strike one at every turnStrike one at every turn

Especially when one finds a notice in an office buildingEspecially when one finds a notice in an office building

““The elevator will not run on Acension Day”The elevator will not run on Acension Day”

Or reads in the Or reads in the Montreal StarMontreal Star: :

““Tomorrow being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,Tomorrow being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,

There will be no collection of garbage in the city”;There will be no collection of garbage in the city”;

Or sees on the restaurant menu the bilingual dish:Or sees on the restaurant menu the bilingual dish:

DEEP APPLE PIEDEEP APPLE PIE

TARTE AUX POMMES PROFONDESTARTE AUX POMMES PROFONDES

… … to multicultural Canadato multicultural Canada

Canada not so much Canada not so much bicultural as bicultural as multiculturalmulticultural

Pierre Trudeau: Pierre Trudeau: Multiculturalism Act Multiculturalism Act (1988): “a public policy (1988): “a public policy that encouraged that encouraged Canadians to be loyal Canadians to be loyal as citizens to Canada as citizens to Canada while celebrating their while celebrating their cultural heritage from cultural heritage from wherever in the world wherever in the world they or their ancestors they or their ancestors came” came”

Trudeau in 1983Trudeau in 1983

Critiquing Canadian Critiquing Canadian multiculturalismmulticulturalism

Bharati Mukherjee:Bharati Mukherjee:

Canada is a country that officially, and proudly, resists the Canada is a country that officially, and proudly, resists the policy and process of cultural fusion. For all its smug policy and process of cultural fusion. For all its smug rhetoric about ‘cultural mosaic,’ Canada refuses to renovate rhetoric about ‘cultural mosaic,’ Canada refuses to renovate its national self-image to include its changing complexion. It its national self-image to include its changing complexion. It is a New World country with Old World concepts of a fixed, is a New World country with Old World concepts of a fixed, exclusivist national identity. And all through the 1970s exclusivist national identity. And all through the 1970s when I lived there, it was a country without a Bill of Rights when I lived there, it was a country without a Bill of Rights or its own Constitution. Canadian official rhetoric or its own Constitution. Canadian official rhetoric designated me, as a citizen of non-European origin, one of designated me, as a citizen of non-European origin, one of the ‘visible minority’ who, even though I spoke the the ‘visible minority’ who, even though I spoke the Canadian national languages of English and French, was Canadian national languages of English and French, was straining ‘the absorptive capacity’ of Canada. Canadians of straining ‘the absorptive capacity’ of Canada. Canadians of color were routinely treated as ‘not real’ Canadians. (1996)color were routinely treated as ‘not real’ Canadians. (1996)

US: “melting pot”US: “melting pot” Canada: “vertical Canada: “vertical

mosaic” (John mosaic” (John Porter, 1965)Porter, 1965)

towards towards “transnational” “transnational” Canada?Canada?

““kaleidoscope” kaleidoscope” (Janice Kulyk (Janice Kulyk Keefer)Keefer)

The Canadian Short StoryThe Canadian Short Story

Yann Martel (1963- Yann Martel (1963- ))

Colonial period (1750-1867)Colonial period (1750-1867)

Frances Brooke, Frances Brooke, The History of The History of Emily MontagueEmily Montague (1769)(1769)

Thomas Chandler Thomas Chandler Haliburton, Haliburton, The The ClockmakerClockmaker (1836- (1836-1840)1840)

Susanna Moodie (1803-1885) Susanna Moodie (1803-1885)

Catherine Parr Traill (1802-Catherine Parr Traill (1802-1899)1899)

Native voicesNative voices

Thomas King Thomas King (1943- )(1943- )

Tomson Highway Tomson Highway (1951- )(1951- )

Robert Weaver, CBCRobert Weaver, CBC

Canadian women writersCanadian women writers

Alice Munro Alice Munro (1931- )(1931- )

Carol Shields Carol Shields (1935-2003)(1935-2003)

Aritha van Herk Aritha van Herk (1954- )(1954- )

Janice Kulyk Keefer Janice Kulyk Keefer (1952- ) (1952- )

Michael Ondaatje Michael Ondaatje (1943- )(1943- )

Timothy Findley Timothy Findley (1930-2002)(1930-2002)

Yeshim TernarYeshim Ternar

the postmodernist challengethe postmodernist challenge

Robert Kroetsch Robert Kroetsch (1927- )(1927- )

Rudy Wiebe (1934- Rudy Wiebe (1934- ))

Guy Vanderhaeghe Guy Vanderhaeghe (1951-)(1951-)

Clark Blaise (1940) Clark Blaise (1940) & Bharati & Bharati Mukherjee (1940)Mukherjee (1940)

Lynn CoadyLynn Coady Roch CarrierRoch Carrier

Lawrence HillLawrence Hill Dionne BrandDionne Brand

Stephen LeacockStephen Leacock“The Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias”“The Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias”

Half-past six on a July morning! The Mariposa Belle is at the wharf,Half-past six on a July morning! The Mariposa Belle is at the wharf,decked in flags, with steam up ready to start.decked in flags, with steam up ready to start.

Excursion day!Excursion day!

Half past six on a July morning, and Lake Wissanotti lying in the Half past six on a July morning, and Lake Wissanotti lying in the sun as calm as glass. The opal colours of the morning light are shot sun as calm as glass. The opal colours of the morning light are shot from the surface of the water.from the surface of the water.

Out on the lake the last thin threads of the mist are clearing awayOut on the lake the last thin threads of the mist are clearing awaylike flecks of cotton wool.like flecks of cotton wool.

The long call of the loon echoes over the lake. The air is cool andThe long call of the loon echoes over the lake. The air is cool andfresh. There is in it all the new life of the land of the silent pinefresh. There is in it all the new life of the land of the silent pineand the moving waters. Lake Wissanotti in the morning sunlight! and the moving waters. Lake Wissanotti in the morning sunlight! Don't talk to me of the Italian lakes, or the Tyrol or the Swiss Alps. Don't talk to me of the Italian lakes, or the Tyrol or the Swiss Alps. Take them away. Move them somewhere else. I don't want them.Take them away. Move them somewhere else. I don't want them.

Excursion Day, at half past six of a summer morning! With the boatExcursion Day, at half past six of a summer morning! With the boatall decked in flags and all the people in Mariposa on the wharf, andall decked in flags and all the people in Mariposa on the wharf, andthe band in peaked caps with big cornets tied to their bodies readythe band in peaked caps with big cornets tied to their bodies readyto play at any minute! I say! Don't tell me about the Carnival ofto play at any minute! I say! Don't tell me about the Carnival ofVenice and the Delhi Durbar. Don't! I wouldn't look at them. I'd shutVenice and the Delhi Durbar. Don't! I wouldn't look at them. I'd shutmy eyes! For light and colour give me every time an excursion out my eyes! For light and colour give me every time an excursion out of Mariposa down the lake to the Indian's Island out of sight in theof Mariposa down the lake to the Indian's Island out of sight in themorning mist. Talk of your Papal Zouaves and your Buckingham morning mist. Talk of your Papal Zouaves and your Buckingham Palace Guard! I want to see the Mariposa band in uniform and the Palace Guard! I want to see the Mariposa band in uniform and the Mariposa Knights of Pythias with their aprons and their insignia and Mariposa Knights of Pythias with their aprons and their insignia and their picnic baskets and their five-cent cigars!their picnic baskets and their five-cent cigars!