史文朋：巴塔耶式的至尊者
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摘要
维多利亚时代英国诗人史文朋素以颓废和变态著称。他是最早将“为艺术而艺术”信条引进英伦的文艺家之一,也是最早践行艺术无目的论的作家之一。在以财富积累和文明进步为基调的19世纪英国,他是以虚掷才华另立别名的反叛者。史文朋不仅提倡理想美本身的无上价值,更不惜处处僭越社会禁忌,惯于以死亡和色情作为诗作、剧作主题。与唯美主义运动其他力将一样,他的人生与艺术交相投影。他沉醉于烈酒和变态色情,从它们创造的迷狂中享受强烈的感官之乐;他挑战社会风俗,不论独裁或是道德、宗教都是他反抗否定的对象。正是对人类劳动和节律原则所抱的怀疑乃至虚无态度,使他有意识地从这种“奴役”状态中解放自己,赋予自身和当下极致的自由。实现自由所依靠的僭越精神、暴力崇拜与迷狂心态,使得史文朋无论作为艺术家还是作为个体人都成为法国近世思想家乔治·巴塔耶的理论中所谓至尊者的典型代表。此处的“至尊”意指相反于任何奴役或屈服的状态,亦即不屈服于任何目的和意义,特别是生产性的意义之状态。近代以前,至尊多形于国王、主教等具体权力拥有者;而究其本质,至尊存在于人僭越禁忌,否定文明秩序,感官曝露于当下强烈的刺激,以至理性思维停止,进入近乎狂喜的状态之时。世俗世界的人以制定禁忌从反面界定人类自然本性,而至尊世界的人以僭越否定这种努力,回归无序亦无目的的自然。值得注意的是作为至尊者的史文朋终究被强大的社会秩序改造驯服,与其他唯美主义艺术家或相同或死亡的结局一同向人们提出问题:至尊者是否只能是特定群体中,而且是特定时刻下的人。
A. C. Swinburne, the poet of the decadent and the perverse in Victorian England, is an embodiment of 'sovereignty' in George Bataille's theories. In times of Philistinism and utilitarianism, he introduced l'art pour l'art from France and became one of the earliest practitioners of the Aesthetic creed. He not only promoted the ontological value of artistic beauty, but also transgressed social taboos in making death and sexuality his favorite subjects. Peculiar to Aestheticism in literary history is the coalition between art and life of the artist. Swinburne, whose personal life is no less turbulent than his works, is a typical miniature. His life, before the moral conversion under Watts-Dunton's custody, was permeated with bursts of artistic creation in volcanic manner, wars against set institutions ranging from morality, tyranny to religion, dissolute pursuit after pleasures through addiction to alcohol and sadomasochist sexual practices. Swinburne is, hereby, a Bataillian sovereign man, with his transgressive spirit, adoration of sacred violence, disregard for utilitarian values, as well as a mental state of intoxication that repels reasoning and embraces enjoyment of the present moment with all senses and faculties opened up. Conscious of the vanity of human labor and the principle of abstinence, he liberates himself from the customary servitude and subordination, and was delivered by his art and lifestyle to a sphere where he squanders his genius for no end but beauty itself, relishing all sensual pleasures and indulging in an ecstatic state of being. This sphere is right that of sovereignty, the land of liberated sovereign man. However, the experiment of Swinburne's adoration for sovereignty did not end in triumph over the philistine society. The defeat, together with those of other decadent artists, reminds us of the nature of sovereignty. It is part of human civilization, but for prescribed moments only, such as festivals and wars; and for special groups of people only, such as artists, priests and kings.
A. C. Swinburne, the poet of the decadent and the perverse in Victorian England, is an embodiment of 'sovereignty' in George Bataille's theories. In times of Philistinism and utilitarianism, he introduced l'art pour l'art from France and became one of the earliest practitioners of the Aesthetic creed. He not only promoted the ontological value of artistic beauty, but also transgressed social taboos in making death and sexuality his favorite subjects. Peculiar to Aestheticism in literary history is the coalition between art and life of the artist. Swinburne, whose personal life is no less turbulent than his works, is a typical miniature. His life, before the moral conversion under Watts-Dunton's custody, was permeated with bursts of artistic creation in volcanic manner, wars against set institutions ranging from morality, tyranny to religion, dissolute pursuit after pleasures through addiction to alcohol and sadomasochist sexual practices. Swinburne is, hereby, a Bataillian sovereign man, with his transgressive spirit, adoration of sacred violence, disregard for utilitarian values, as well as a mental state of intoxication that repels reasoning and embraces enjoyment of the present moment with all senses and faculties opened up. Conscious of the vanity of human labor and the principle of abstinence, he liberates himself from the customary servitude and subordination, and was delivered by his art and lifestyle to a sphere where he squanders his genius for no end but beauty itself, relishing all sensual pleasures and indulging in an ecstatic state of being. This sphere is right that of sovereignty, the land of liberated sovereign man. However, the experiment of Swinburne's adoration for sovereignty did not end in triumph over the philistine society. The defeat, together with those of other decadent artists, reminds us of the nature of sovereignty. It is part of human civilization, but for prescribed moments only, such as festivals and wars; and for special groups of people only, such as artists, priests and kings.
引文
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Bataille,Georges.Eroticism.trans.Mary Dalwood.London:Marion Boyars.1987.
Bataille,Georges.The Accursed Share:An Essay on General Economy.Vol.1.New York:Zone Books.1991.
Beekson,Karl,ed.,Aesthetes and Deeadents of the 1890's:An Anthology of British Poetry and Prose,revised edition.Chicago:Academy Chicago.1981.
Boldt-Irons,Leslie Anne,ed.,On Bataille:Critical Essays.Albany:SUNY Press.1995.
Cassidy,John.'Robert Buchanan and the Fleshly Controversy'.PMLA,Vol.67,No.2.(Mar.,1952),pp 65-93.
Chai,Leon.Aestheticism:The Religion of Art in Post-Romantic Literature.New York:Columbia UP.1990.
Connoll,Thomas."Swinburne's Theory of the End of Art." ELH,Vol.19,No.4.(Dec.,1952),pp 277-290.
Garelick,Rhonda.Rising Star:Dandyism,Gender,and Performance in the Fin de Siecle.Princeton:Princeton U.P.,1998.
Gill,Carolyn.Bataille:Writing the Sacred.London:Routledge.1995.
Grosskurth,P."Swinburne and Symonds:An Uneasy Literary Relationship." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.14,No.55.(Aug.,1963),pp 257-268.
Harrison,Antony."Swinburne's Losses:The Poetics of Passion." ELH,Vol.49,No.3.,(Autumn,1982),pp 689-706.
Huysmans,J.K.Against the Grain.New York:Dover Publications,1969.
Johnson,R.V.Aestheticism.London:Methuen.1969.
Land,Nick.The Thirst for Annihilation:Georges Bataille and Virulent Nihilism.London:Routledge.1992.
Louis,Margot."Proserpine and Pessimism:Goddesses of Death,Life,and Language from Swinburne to Wharton." Modern Philology,Vol.96,No.3.(Feb.,1999),pp 312-346.
Meyers,Terry."Swinburne's Speech to the Royal Literary Fund,May 2,1866." Modern Philology,Vol.86,No.2.(Nov.,1988),pp 195-201.
Moers,Ellen.The Dandy:Brummel to Beerbohm.New York:The Viking Press.1960.
Pater,Walter.The Renaissance:Studies in Art and Poetry.London:Macmillan.1913.
Ridenour,George."Time and Eternity in Swinburne:Minute Particulars in Five Poems." ELH,vol.45,No.1.(Spring,1978),pp 107-130.
Rooksby,Rikky."Swinburne's 'Boo' Rides Again." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.44,No.173.(Feb.,1993),pp 77-82.
Rooksby,Rikky."Case of Commoner Swinbume." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.41,No.164.(Nov.,1990),pp 510-520.
Stasny,John."Review on Poems and Ballads and Atlanta in Calydon by Algernon Swinburne."The Modern Language Journal,Vol.56,No.3(Mar.,1972),pp 178-179.
Stoekl,Allan."Introduction." Visions of Excess:Selected Writings,1927-1939.by Georges Bataille.ed.and trans.Allan Stoekl.Minneapolis:Minnesota U.P.,1991.
Surya,Michel.Georges Bataille:An Intellectual Biography.trans.Krzysztof Fijalkowski and Michael Richardson.London:Verso.2002.
Swinburne,Algernon.Lesbia Brandon.London:Falcon Press.1952.
Swinburne,Algernon.Poems and Ballads & Atalanta in Calydon.London:Penguin.2000.
Thomas,Donald.Swinburne:The Poet in His World.London:Allison & Busby.1999.
Wagner-Lawlor,Jennifer."Metaphorical 'Indiscretion' and Literary Survival in Swinburne's 'Anactoria'." Studies in English Literature,1500-1900.Vol.4,Nineteenth Century.(Autumn,1996),pp 917-934.
Ward.A.W.and A.R.Waller.ed.The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes(1907-21),Volume ⅩⅢ.The Victorian Age,Part One.New York:Bartleby.2000.
Weingrad,Michael."Parisian Messianism:Catholicism,Decadence,and the Transgressions of Georges Bataille." History & Memory,Volume 13,No.2,(Fall/Winter 2001),pp 113-133.
Weston,Bruce.'Review on Poems and Ballads and Atalanta in Clayton.' The Modern Language Journal,Vol.56,No.3.(Mar.,1972),pp 178-179.
Wilde,Oscar.'Life in the Fallacious Model.' Selected Prose of Oscar Wilde.Project Gutenberg.2005,pp 6-8.
Wilde,Oscar.The Picture of Dorian Gray.Glasgow:Collins.1985.
Wilde,Oscar.The Plays of Oscar Wilde.Hertfordshire:Wordsworth Editions Limited.2002.
周小仪《唯美主义与消费文化》,北京:北京大学出版社,2002。
冈特,威廉《美的历险》,肖聿译,南京:江苏教育出版社,2005。
Bataille,Georges.Eroticism.trans.Mary Dalwood.London:Marion Boyars.1987.
Bataille,Georges.The Accursed Share:An Essay on General Economy.Vol.1.New York:Zone Books.1991.
Beekson,Karl,ed.,Aesthetes and Deeadents of the 1890's:An Anthology of British Poetry and Prose,revised edition.Chicago:Academy Chicago.1981.
Boldt-Irons,Leslie Anne,ed.,On Bataille:Critical Essays.Albany:SUNY Press.1995.
Cassidy,John.'Robert Buchanan and the Fleshly Controversy'.PMLA,Vol.67,No.2.(Mar.,1952),pp 65-93.
Chai,Leon.Aestheticism:The Religion of Art in Post-Romantic Literature.New York:Columbia UP.1990.
Connoll,Thomas."Swinburne's Theory of the End of Art." ELH,Vol.19,No.4.(Dec.,1952),pp 277-290.
Garelick,Rhonda.Rising Star:Dandyism,Gender,and Performance in the Fin de Siecle.Princeton:Princeton U.P.,1998.
Gill,Carolyn.Bataille:Writing the Sacred.London:Routledge.1995.
Grosskurth,P."Swinburne and Symonds:An Uneasy Literary Relationship." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.14,No.55.(Aug.,1963),pp 257-268.
Harrison,Antony."Swinburne's Losses:The Poetics of Passion." ELH,Vol.49,No.3.,(Autumn,1982),pp 689-706.
Huysmans,J.K.Against the Grain.New York:Dover Publications,1969.
Johnson,R.V.Aestheticism.London:Methuen.1969.
Land,Nick.The Thirst for Annihilation:Georges Bataille and Virulent Nihilism.London:Routledge.1992.
Louis,Margot."Proserpine and Pessimism:Goddesses of Death,Life,and Language from Swinburne to Wharton." Modern Philology,Vol.96,No.3.(Feb.,1999),pp 312-346.
Meyers,Terry."Swinburne's Speech to the Royal Literary Fund,May 2,1866." Modern Philology,Vol.86,No.2.(Nov.,1988),pp 195-201.
Moers,Ellen.The Dandy:Brummel to Beerbohm.New York:The Viking Press.1960.
Pater,Walter.The Renaissance:Studies in Art and Poetry.London:Macmillan.1913.
Ridenour,George."Time and Eternity in Swinburne:Minute Particulars in Five Poems." ELH,vol.45,No.1.(Spring,1978),pp 107-130.
Rooksby,Rikky."Swinburne's 'Boo' Rides Again." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.44,No.173.(Feb.,1993),pp 77-82.
Rooksby,Rikky."Case of Commoner Swinbume." The Review of English Studies,New Series,Vol.41,No.164.(Nov.,1990),pp 510-520.
Stasny,John."Review on Poems and Ballads and Atlanta in Calydon by Algernon Swinburne."The Modern Language Journal,Vol.56,No.3(Mar.,1972),pp 178-179.
Stoekl,Allan."Introduction." Visions of Excess:Selected Writings,1927-1939.by Georges Bataille.ed.and trans.Allan Stoekl.Minneapolis:Minnesota U.P.,1991.
Surya,Michel.Georges Bataille:An Intellectual Biography.trans.Krzysztof Fijalkowski and Michael Richardson.London:Verso.2002.
Swinburne,Algernon.Lesbia Brandon.London:Falcon Press.1952.
Swinburne,Algernon.Poems and Ballads & Atalanta in Calydon.London:Penguin.2000.
Thomas,Donald.Swinburne:The Poet in His World.London:Allison & Busby.1999.
Wagner-Lawlor,Jennifer."Metaphorical 'Indiscretion' and Literary Survival in Swinburne's 'Anactoria'." Studies in English Literature,1500-1900.Vol.4,Nineteenth Century.(Autumn,1996),pp 917-934.
Ward.A.W.and A.R.Waller.ed.The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes(1907-21),Volume ⅩⅢ.The Victorian Age,Part One.New York:Bartleby.2000.
Weingrad,Michael."Parisian Messianism:Catholicism,Decadence,and the Transgressions of Georges Bataille." History & Memory,Volume 13,No.2,(Fall/Winter 2001),pp 113-133.
Weston,Bruce.'Review on Poems and Ballads and Atalanta in Clayton.' The Modern Language Journal,Vol.56,No.3.(Mar.,1972),pp 178-179.
Wilde,Oscar.'Life in the Fallacious Model.' Selected Prose of Oscar Wilde.Project Gutenberg.2005,pp 6-8.
Wilde,Oscar.The Picture of Dorian Gray.Glasgow:Collins.1985.
Wilde,Oscar.The Plays of Oscar Wilde.Hertfordshire:Wordsworth Editions Limited.2002.
周小仪《唯美主义与消费文化》,北京:北京大学出版社,2002。
冈特,威廉《美的历险》,肖聿译,南京:江苏教育出版社,2005。