Kafka

End of an Era · **Joined:** 25th Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 1041

...or genius?

I have to say I never really got the Dada or modernist stuff coming out of Germany in the early part of the last century. Personally, I don't rate Kafka that highly - maybe because he influenced everything I've read since and subsequent authors have stood on his shoulders - but really, he's not that good.

I'm not sure I give a damn that some papers might be revealed... I'm guessing they should have been burnt as per his wishes.

Malabelm · **Posted:** Mon Jul 19, 2010 23:36

I can't comment, other than the fact it makes fairly good dummy text for webpage content mocks:

Quote:

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.

He lay on his armour-like back, and if he lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly, slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections. The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed ready to slide off any moment.

His many legs, pitifully thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved about helplessly as he looked. "What's happened to me? " he thought. It wasn't a dream. His room, a proper human room although a little too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls.

A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table - Samsa was a travelling salesman - and above it there hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame. It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer. Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull weather.

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

I read the Metamorphosis years ago while helping a relative who was studying it. A-Level, I think. For a story about a man turning into a gigantic beetle, it was unforgivably dull.

I find it hard to disassociate a friend's comment, too: "So his dad comes in and sees his son has become a giant beetle, and he spazzes out and starts chucking apples at him. I don't know about you, but if I were attacking a giant beetle, I'd be thinking less 'apples' and more 'flaming hot knives'."

As for Kafka's other stuff, I tried starting another of his short stories once, but can't even remember its name, what it was about, or whether it was even by him. The feeling that he's one of those writers that is 10% writing and 90% other people's tryhard gushing lingers.

I should probably give him another chance now that I'm older and more boring. I mean, it's a short story, right? He can't possibly have crammed into a page as much tedium as, say, Joseph Conrad.

Anonymous X · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 2046

I thought that he was a memorable villain character, if a bit too camp and theatrical at times.

But, hey, wasn't that final battle rather epic?

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 6:36

sinister agent wrote:

I read the Metamorphosis years ago while helping a relative who was studying it. A-Level, I think. For a story about a man turning into a gigantic beetle, it was unforgivably dull.

I find it hard to disassociate a friend's comment, too: "So his dad comes in and sees his son has become a giant beetle, and he spazzes out and starts chucking apples at him. I don't know about you, but if I were attacking a giant beetle, I'd be thinking less 'apples' and more 'flaming hot knives'."

As for Kafka's other stuff, I tried starting another of his short stories once, but can't even remember its name, what it was about, or whether it was even by him. The feeling that he's one of those writers that is 10% writing and 90% other people's tryhard gushing lingers.

I should probably give him another chance now that I'm older and more boring. I mean, it's a short story, right? He can't possibly have crammed into a page as much tedium as, say, Joseph Conrad.

Oh God, Conrad is one tedious mofo. Even his short stories feel like they take an eternity to read. But you're right about Kafka as well. Even if I was immortal I'd want to read every single other published word at least twice before reading any Kafka again.

lasermink · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1883

I've only read The Trial, but I thought it was pretty lovely. Even if it's all like a surreal dream, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. A bit like some of David Lynch's movies, like Lost Highway.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11898

I think they are useful and can see why they were developed, particularly during a sand storm, but wouldn't wear one myself.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

As producers of 1990s chav sportswear, in particular shellsuits, they were almost unbeatable.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:14

Who doesn't like meatballs of Middle Eastern and South Asian origin? Delicious!

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6613

Kafka joins Tolstoy and Walter Scott as "Authors I've read one book by, and appreciate their ability and social relevance at the time, but I'm damned if I'm going near them again" group.

The Rev Owen · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 9:31

I really enjoyed the Kafka I read.

DBSnappa · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:28

Maybe he's akin to some other well regarded authors who actually only write one decent book and then churn out meretricious pretentious shite for the bulk of their careers.

Cavey · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:10

DBSnappa wrote:

Maybe he's akin to some other well regarded authors who actually only write one decent book and then churn out meretricious pretentious shite for the bulk of their careers.

Yes, Terry Pratchett being a fine example of this.

:DD

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:21

DBSnappa wrote:

meretricious

Oh that's a good one.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:32

They're certainly my favourite of all the Volkswagen vans.

lasermink · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 1883

Without Kafka, we wouldn't have had the word "Kafkaesque", which would have been a terrible shame.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

I would like examples of 'kafkaesque' where it is not used in front of the word 'nightmare'.

A kafkaesque pudding would be interesting.

Bobbyaro · **Joined:** 18th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 11898

kafkaesque bedspread.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:48

Kafkaescalator

sdg · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 13:32

Zardoz wrote:

Kafkaescalator

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6613

I'm going to publish a confusing, impersonal, alienating men's magazine, and call it Kafaesquire. Anyone want to write me an article on which suits to buy to make an instant impression, but that will ultimately leave you feeling isolated, persecuted and hounded by an invisible and faceless bureaucracy?

NervousPete · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 13:59

I always loved how The Onion referred to him as 'Kafaesque writer Franz Kafka...'

Curiosity · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:02

Craster wrote:

I would like examples of 'kafkaesque' where it is not used in front of the word 'nightmare'.

A kafkaesque pudding would be interesting.

See also: Orwellian.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:02

Squirt wrote:

Anyone want to write me an article on which suits to buy to make an instant impression, but that will ultimately leave you feeling isolated, persecuted and hounded by an invisible and faceless bureaucracy?

Marx and Spencers.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

The Orwellian Pudding. You may neither have your cake, nor eat it.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:06

The Lynchian pudding. It starts off as a nice lemon tart, before inexplicably turning into a '74 Chevy, and running over your feet, which are now made of cheese.

Squirt · **Joined:** 31st Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6613

The Nietzschean Super Pudding : If you stare at the pudding long enough, the pudding stares back at you.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:10

The Edgar Allen Poedding: One scoop, Nevermore.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

The Blairite pudding. You accuse someone of hiding pudding from you, then you march into their fridge and accuse them of eating the pudding before you got there. Later you are questioned about your reasons for going in their fridge and you admit that you knew there was probably no pudding, but God had told you that the salad products in the fridge were rotting because it was turned up too high and you were right to correct the temperature. Then you take all the butter out of the fridge when you leave.

He is writing a book. Honest.

NervousPete · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:19

The Freudian Pudding - ha ha, with this cherry on top it looks like a breast!

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49244

The Camus Pudding - don't bother. It'll just be fucking rubbish anyway. I hate pudding.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

JK Rowling pudding - 500 grams of regurgitated pudding that you've enjoyed before just with slightly more sexual tension, followed by a 'surprise' appearance by the same ingredient that seems to turn up at the end of every sitting.

Cavey · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:34

The Asimovian Pudding:

1. It will never upset your stomach or cause you to put on weight, regardless of quantity eaten.

2. It will never burn in the oven and it always turns outs easily from the tin.

3. It will prevent itself from being stolen or destoyed, unless in conflict with (1) or (2).

Curiosity · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:42

The Dickensian Pudding - Riddled with smallpox and unavailable to a humble street urchin.

ApplePieOfDestiny · **Joined:** 17th Dec, 2008 **Posts:** 8293

The Shakespearian Pudding - Someone else made it.

Cavey · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 14:59

The Joan Bakewell Tart:

When bought new, it's a feisty, zesty, fruity affair that's very hard to handle (and will quite possibly shag your husband).

However, this particular desert changes beyond recognition when mature; it becomes a rather staid, predictable and homely affair, very conservative and not at all out of place at the local church fete (typically alongside 'Whitehouse Whips'), where it will readily offer itself for re-sale.

DavPaz · **Joined:** 27th Jun, 2008 **Posts:** 38667

The King Pudding - wonderfully dense and rich until you get to the end, which leaves you feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.

Morte · **Posted:** Tue Jul 20, 2010 17:35

Kafka is a good thing obviously, for without him we wouldn't have the concept of Kafka Dreams

End of an Era · **Joined:** 25th Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 1041

So, then, Kafka puddings a-ok, Kafka the novelist a bit of a boring fuckwit.

BeexResult!

sinister agent · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 7046

Craster wrote:

I would like examples of 'kafkaesque' where it is not used in front of the word 'nightmare'.

A kafkaesque pudding would be interesting.

That reminds me - one of my favourite books was described on the above-average blurb on the back as 'kafkaesque'. I can only conclude that the commenter had either not read the book, or didn't know who kafka was, but heard someone else use the word once and thought they'd give it a whirl.

I mean, for one thing, something actually happens.

Also, the Johnson Pudding: It's paying for a funeral. Enjoy!

The Grisham pudding: A printed list of ingredients served directly onto the table. £35.

kalmar · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 12:11

NervousPete wrote:

The Freudian Pudding - ha ha, with this cherry on top it looks like your mother's breast!

FTFY

These are very good by the way

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jul 21, 2010 13:15

Zardoz wrote:

The Edgar Allen Poedding: One scoop, Nevermore.

Oh, superb!

<applause>

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Kafka
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Be Excellent To Each Other

Kafka Complete crap...

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Kafka
Complete crap...