Time in the work of Philippe Beck

What is it about?

This article on the French poet Philippe Beck (1963-) examines how time is presented and configured in two of his books: a volume of poetry that rewrites fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm, and a prose work that is structured like a diary. His use of the words of others, and his development of what he calls an 'impersonal' subject in the diary, might seem to imply that the works are outside the time and parameters of the single human life. This article argues, though, that instead of linear temporality, Beck presents a particular understanding of time as disrupted and hesitant that he names 'le temps rhumain' ('rhuman time'), and that forces his readers to reexamine how human beings experience time as they read and think about the cultural environment in which they live.

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Why is it important?

The article contributes to the growing interest in contemporary French poetic practice, as poets go beyond the boundaries of what might traditionally be understood as the genre of poetry in their use of a variety of formats and media. It also participates in debates in literary and philosophical studies about how time can and should be understood in the increasingly fast-paced and interconnected contemporary world.

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