Models of Utopia: Representations of Nineteenth-Century Paris

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dc.contributor.authorStone, Shiloh Josephen
dc.contributor.committeechairJohnson, Sharon P.en
dc.contributor.committeememberShryock, Richard L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberTeulon, Fabrice G.en
dc.contributor.departmentForeign Languages, Cultures, and Literaturesen
dc.date.accessioned2013-12-20T09:00:25Zen
dc.date.available2013-12-20T09:00:25Zen
dc.date.issued2013-12-19en
dc.description.abstractIn the texts analyzed in this thesis, nineteenth-century Paris illustrates the utopian principles formulated by Karl Mannheim whose conceptualizations concern the social and moral order that makes up human existence. His utopia is characterized by human thoughts, behaviors, and actions. In our analysis of the works by Charles Fourier, Victor Hugo, and Emile Zola, common themes emerge as each writer undertakes the task of representing the past, present, and future Paris. They describe ideas of poverty, sickness, and revolution as well as the importance of education, progress, and moral order. The most telling conclusion of utopia unveiled in the thesis is that each writer also depicts his vision of Paris with a specific and unique designation. For Fourier, a utopian Paris is described as Harmony. A harmonious state of being represents a society built on agreement, cooperation, and order. Hugo's representation of Paris comes under the epithet of Humanity and Fraternity. Hugo believes that Paris held the key to unlocking a society built on benevolence, cooperation, and camaraderie. Zola designates Paris as Modernity. For Zola, modernity creates a paradox of utopia/dystopia and order/disorder. However, Paris offers the hope of a ville beatitude wherein the well-being of all the families would be of highest priority to create happiness, security, and order. Though each writer had a different idealization of Paris, the analysis of utopian mentalities foregrounds their outlook on not only the city-space but of humanity which held much promise for harmony, happiness, and order in a future "utopian" state.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Artsen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:2121en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/24766en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectNineteenth-century Parisen
dc.subjectutopiaen
dc.subjectMannheimen
dc.subjectFourieren
dc.subjectHugoen
dc.subjectZolaen
dc.subjectHarmonyen
dc.subjectHumanityen
dc.subjectFraternityen
dc.subjectModernityen
dc.titleModels of Utopia: Representations of Nineteenth-Century Parisen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineForeign Languages, Cultures, and Literaturesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Artsen

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