Would you say, you deceive people who love and/or admire you?

Juliane

I'm not a seducer. You should know that by now.

Arnon

Of course, you're not...

Can one write vulgarity without becoming slightly (or completely) vulgar? In other words: What about Barthes?

Plausability

I have been wondering how plausible Houellebecq's characters are. Does their vulgarity make them seem more plausible than they actually are? Not that his characters need to be plausible - a sense of fascinating recognition is more than enough.

Perhaps vulgarity had a different meaning in Kierkegaard's day.

I think most of his characters are quite plausible, at leat in terms of their sexual behavior. Daniel (Possibility of an Island) is a bit weak as a loser and succesful comedian,at the same time, though this makes him interesting.

Do you consider vulgarity a characteristic of 'domesticated' or of 'undomesticated'?

Entre C

Please explain your question.

Dens

Interesting question. Could you give an example?

Domestication

Surely vulgarity is a by-product of "domestication". However all these terms need to be defined carefully. Does "domestication" mean "docile, well-mannered member of the masses"?

I am not sure "vulgar" is a good word when it comes to Houellebecq. It is a word loaded with class distinctions and snobbishness. ("Vulgar" is derived from "vulgus" meaning "the (common) people", which is also the word's original meaning.) However, Houellebecq's characters would almost all be considered "middle class".

Also: Houellebecq's characters seem "vulgar" to the reader, but that is because we are privy to their thoughts. They are not actually vulgar to each other. (Although I'll grant that participation in numerous gang-bangs constitutes vulgar behaviour.) The most "vulgar" of characters, Bruno in "Atomised" is actually a deviant personality. Is deviant equivalent to vulgar? I am not sure. I think I'd say a person like that was "depraved" rather than "vulgar".

Are Houellebecq's books vulgar as a whole? I am sure most people would think so.

Carlos

Deviant behavior can be vulgar, but not by definition.
I would say that Houellebecq's books have become more vulgar over the years.
"Whatever" (terrible translation of "Extension du domaine de la lutte ") is not vulgar at all. If "vulgar" is not the right word, what word do you propose?
With "vulgar" I meant: the concentration on the pornographic aspects of life, the celebration of these aspects, the imitation of pornography, the mix of sentimentality and eroticism.
I would argue that for example De Sade is not vulgar at all.