Kelly, D., Feriani, R. and Bolfek-Radovani, J. 2020. Reading Signs and Symbols with Abdelkébir Khatibi: From the Body to the Text. in: Abdelkébir Khatibi: Postcolonialism, Transnationalism, and Culture in the Maghreb and Beyond Liverpool Liverpool University Press. pp. 237-260
| Chapter title | Reading Signs and Symbols with Abdelkébir Khatibi: From the Body to the Text |
|---|---|
| Authors | Kelly, D., Feriani, R. and Bolfek-Radovani, J. |
| Abstract | This chapter considers the ways in which Khatibi’s practices of reading contribute to theories of meaning through his thinking on the deciphering of signs and symbols and of making sense of the world, and of the worlds of the text, in their multifaceted forms. It takes as its starting point what Khatibi terms ‘l’intersémiotique’ in his introductory essay entitled ‘Le Cristal du Texte’ in La Blessure du nom propre, an important collection of essays for a better understanding of his work published in 1974. The ‘intersemiotic’ concerns migrant signs which move between one sign system and another, and Khatibi takes as his own project examples from semiotic systems found within Arabic and Islamic cultures, from both popular culture, such as the tattoo, to calligraphy and the language of the Quran, from the body, including the place of the erotic, to the text and beyond – including storytelling, mosaics, urban space, textiles. His readings reveal the intersemiotic and polysemic meanings created in the movements of these migrant signs between their sign systems. For Khatibi, this ‘infinity’ of the ‘text’ is linked also to mobile and migrant identity refracted in the multifaceted surfaces of the crystal (hence the title of the theoretical introductory essay – ‘Le Cristal du Texte’) rather than in one reflection as in a mirror. Moving from these concerns through and with which Khatibi develops his radical theory of the sign, of the word and of writing, and from the ways in which these concerns are reflected in the example of his own autobiographical text La Mémoire tatouée, the chapter goes on to investigate how Khatibi’s reading strategies may help the reading of other writers with a shared, but varied, relationship to their Islamic heritage. To do this, it takes another precise example in a work by the Algerian writer Assia Djebar whose writing, like that of many other twentieth and twenty-first century North African writers, is resonant with Khatibi’s intersemiotic theoretical and cultural project, and is concerned also with the individual and the collective, the historical and the contemporary, the political, the social and the linguistic. The chapter ends, then, by considering the implications of Khatibi’s reading and writing strategies for writers working with and through an Islamic heritage and significantly, as for Khatibi, the Sufi Islamic heritage. |
| Keywords | signs and symbols; the 'intersemiotic'; Sufi Islamic Heritage |
| Book title | Abdelkébir Khatibi: Postcolonialism, Transnationalism, and Culture in the Maghreb and Beyond |
| Page range | 237-260 |
| Year | 2020 |
| Publisher | Liverpool University Press |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 31 Oct 2020 |
| Place of publication | Liverpool |
| Series | Contemporary French and Francophone Cultures, 72 |
| ISBN | 9781789622331 |
Paris and London Calling: the restaurant as transnational site
Kelly, D. 2023. Paris and London Calling: the restaurant as transnational site. in: Forsdick, C. and Launchbury, C. (ed.) Transnational French Studies Liverpool Liverpool University Press.
Fishes with Funny French Names: The French Restaurant in London from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Century
Kelly, D. 2021. Fishes with Funny French Names: The French Restaurant in London from the Nineteenth to the Twenty-First Century. Liverpool Liverpool University Press.
Language learning experiences of postgraduate research students in the UK
Álvarez, I., Montoro, C., de Medeiros, A., Kelly, D. and Hazard, A. 2020. Language learning experiences of postgraduate research students in the UK. The Language Learning Journal. 48 (5), pp. 672-684. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2020.1724186
Champs de bataille: expériences et imaginaires
Kelly, D. 2020. Champs de bataille: expériences et imaginaires. in: Le récit de guerre comme source d’histoire, de l’Antiquité à nos jours Rennes, France Presses Universitaires de Franche-Comté. pp. 399-414
Pierre Albert-Birot n'ira pas à la guerre:expériences et imaginaires en temps de guerre
Kelly, D. 2019. Pierre Albert-Birot n'ira pas à la guerre:expériences et imaginaires en temps de guerre. in: Aurouet, C. and Simon-Oikawa, M. (ed.) Pierre Albert-Birot. Un pyrogène des avant-gardes Rennes Presses Universitaires de Rennes. pp. 39-49
Léopold Survage dans les espaces des revues artistiques et littéraires: rythmes, interactions, innovations
Kelly, D. 2019. Léopold Survage dans les espaces des revues artistiques et littéraires: rythmes, interactions, innovations. in: Brogniez, L., Dessy, C. and Sadoun, C. (ed.) L'Artiste en revues: Fonctions, contributions et interactions de l'artiste en mode périodique Rennes, France Presses Universitaires de Rennes.
Création et Infinitude: Pierre Albert-Birot entre peinture et poésie dans 'Les Poemes a l'autre moi'
Kelly, D. 2017. Création et Infinitude: Pierre Albert-Birot entre peinture et poésie dans 'Les Poemes a l'autre moi'. Europe - Revue Litteraire Mensuelle. 1056, pp. 58-68.
Introduction: The Past, the Present and the Future of War and Culture Studies
Kelly, D. 2016. Introduction: The Past, the Present and the Future of War and Culture Studies. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 9 (3), pp. 203-208. https://doi.org/10.1080/17526272.2016.1190597
Book Review 'Nos meilleurs ennemis. L'entente cordiale culturelle franco-britannique revisitee
Kelly, D. 2016. Book Review 'Nos meilleurs ennemis. L'entente cordiale culturelle franco-britannique revisitee. Contemporary French Civilization. 41 (1), pp. 113-115. https://doi.org/10.3828/cfc.2016.6
Introduction: Effects and Affects of Conflict in the Heat of Battle and the Cold War of Words
Kelly, D. 2016. Introduction: Effects and Affects of Conflict in the Heat of Battle and the Cold War of Words. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 9 (1), pp. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1080/17526272.2015.1115246
A Migrant Culture on Display: The French Migrant and French Gastronomy in London (19th – 21st centuries)
Kelly, D. 2016. A Migrant Culture on Display: The French Migrant and French Gastronomy in London (19th – 21st centuries). Modern Languages Open. https://doi.org/10.3828/mlo.v0i0.148
Introduction: Geographies of War and Culture Studies
Kelly, D. 2015. Introduction: Geographies of War and Culture Studies. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 8 (4), pp. 269-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/17526272.2015.1108582
Introduction: Ambiguities and Ambivalences in the Representation of War and the Work of War and Culture Studies
Kelly, D. 2015. Introduction: Ambiguities and Ambivalences in the Representation of War and the Work of War and Culture Studies. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 7 (2), pp. 97-99. https://doi.org/10.1179/1752627214Z.00000000037
Introduction: War and Culture Studies: Blurred Boundaries and Complex Identities
Kelly, D. 2014. Introduction: War and Culture Studies: Blurred Boundaries and Complex Identities. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 7 (4), pp. 301-302. https://doi.org/10.1179/1752627214Z.00000000051
Conclusion: a temporal and spatial mapping of the French in London
Kelly, D. and Cornick, M. 2013. Conclusion: a temporal and spatial mapping of the French in London. in: Kelly, D. and Cornick, M. (ed.) A history of the French in London: liberty, equality, opportunity London Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London. pp. 431-447
"An infinity of living forms, representative of the absolute”? Reading futurism with Pierre Albert-Birot as witness, creative collaborator and dissenter
Kelly, D. 2013. "An infinity of living forms, representative of the absolute”? Reading futurism with Pierre Albert-Birot as witness, creative collaborator and dissenter. in: Adamowicz, E. and Storchi, S. (ed.) Back to the futurists: the avant-garde and its legacy Manchester Manchester University Press.
"Silent transformations": ageing and the work of writing in Robert Pinget’s Théo ou le temps neuf
Kelly, D. 2013. "Silent transformations": ageing and the work of writing in Robert Pinget’s Théo ou le temps neuf. in: Charnley, J. and Verdier, C. (ed.) As time goes by: portraits of age Newcastle upon Tyne Cambridge Scholars Publishing. pp. 243-262
Pierre Albert-Birot and SIC: the avant-garde review as collective adventure and personal poetics
Kelly, D. 2013. Pierre Albert-Birot and SIC: the avant-garde review as collective adventure and personal poetics. in: Forsdick, C. and Stafford, A. (ed.) La Revue: the twentieth-century periodical in French Oxford Peter Lang. pp. 237-248
Mapping free French London: spaces, places, traces
Kelly, D. 2013. Mapping free French London: spaces, places, traces. in: Kelly, D. and Cornick, M. (ed.) A history of the French in London: liberty, equality, opportunity London Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London. pp. 303-341
Grabinoulor has fun with language and makes new friends: the first book of Grabinoulor and beyond
Kelly, D. 2013. Grabinoulor has fun with language and makes new friends: the first book of Grabinoulor and beyond. in: Renouard, M. and Kelly, D. (ed.) Barbara Wright: translation as art London Dalkey Archive Press.
Introduction: towards a history of the French in London
Cornick, M. and Kelly, D. 2013. Introduction: towards a history of the French in London. in: Kelly, D. and Cornick, M. (ed.) A history of the French in London: liberty, equality, opportunity London Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London.
Living war, reading war: emotions and responses in life-writing narratives of the French occupation
Kelly, D. 2012. Living war, reading war: emotions and responses in life-writing narratives of the French occupation. in: Fauth, S.R., Krejberg, K.G. and Süselbeck, J. (ed.) Repräsentationen des Krieges : Emotionalisierungsstrategien in der Literatur und den audiovisuellen Medien vom 18. bis zum 21. Jahrhundert Göttingen Wallstein Verlag.
Lived experience past/reading experiences present: figures of memory in French life-writing narratives of the occupation
Kelly, D. 2012. Lived experience past/reading experiences present: figures of memory in French life-writing narratives of the occupation. in: Atack, M. and Lloyd, C. (ed.) Framing narratives: the second world war and occupation in France 1939-2009 Manchester Manchester University Press.
Ecrire au passé, au présent et au futur: Pierre Albert-Birot et les temps de la création
Kelly, D. 2012. Ecrire au passé, au présent et au futur: Pierre Albert-Birot et les temps de la création. in: Simon, M. (ed.) Poésie vivante Paris Honoré Champion. pp. 55-65
The development of war and culture studies in the UK: from French studies, beyond and back again
Kelly, D., Cooper, N. and Hurcombe, M. 2011. The development of war and culture studies in the UK: from French studies, beyond and back again. in: Lane, P. and Worton, M. (ed.) French studies in and for the twenty-first century Liverpool University Press. pp. 220-231
How to live? One question and six or seven life lessons with Albert Memmi
Kelly, D. 2011. How to live? One question and six or seven life lessons with Albert Memmi. Journal of French and Francophone Philosophy. 19 (2), pp. 67-95. https://doi.org/10.5195/jffp.2011.472
Introduction: variations on the theme of war and culture
Hurcombe, M. and Kelly, D. 2011. Introduction: variations on the theme of war and culture. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 4 (1), pp. 3-6. https://doi.org/10.1386/jwcs.4.1.3_2
'France's children' at home in London? Contemporary lives and experiences of the London French
Huc-Hepher, S. and Kelly, D. 2010. 'France's children' at home in London? Contemporary lives and experiences of the London French.
Introduction: Performance and war
Kelly, D. and Dixon, L. 2010. Introduction: Performance and war. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 3 (3), pp. 269-273. https://doi.org/10.1386/jwcs.3.3.269_2
Lived experience past/reading experience present: figures of memory in French life-writing narratives of the occupation
Kelly, D. 2010. Lived experience past/reading experience present: figures of memory in French life-writing narratives of the occupation. in: Atack, M. and Lloyd, C. (ed.) Framing narratives: the Second World War and occupation in France 1939-2009 Manchester Manchester University Press.
Introduction: variations on a theme
Kelly, D. 2010. Introduction: variations on a theme. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 3 (1), pp. 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1386/jwcs.3.1.3_2
From cultural amnesia to 'anamnesia' in reading life-writing narratives of the French occupation: the lost manuscript, the 'handwritingness' of history
and the broken narrative
Kelly, D. 2010. From cultural amnesia to 'anamnesia' in reading life-writing narratives of the French occupation: the lost manuscript, the 'handwritingness' of history
and the broken narrative. Synthesis. 2, pp. 48-61.
Intellectuals and war
Kelly, D. and Drake, D. 2009. Intellectuals and war. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 2 (1), pp. 5-16. https://doi.org/10.1386/jwcs.2.1.5_2
The Franco-British exhibition of 1908: legacies and memories one hundred years on
Kelly, D. and Jackson, T. 2009. The Franco-British exhibition of 1908: legacies and memories one hundred years on. Synergies Royaume-Uni et Irlande. 2, pp. 11-23.
The witness and the text: text(ure)s of memory
Kelly, D. 2009. The witness and the text: text(ure)s of memory. Journal of Romance Studies. 9 (3), pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3167/jrs.2009.090301
The appeal to memory: Marguerite Duras and Assia Djebar, from the urgent narrative to the 'monumental' text
Kelly, D. 2009. The appeal to memory: Marguerite Duras and Assia Djebar, from the urgent narrative to the 'monumental' text. Journal of Romance Studies. 9 (3), pp. 60-72. https://doi.org/10.3167/jrs.2009.090306
Languages and international events: are we ready to talk to the world in 2012?
Huc-Hepher, S., Kelly, D. and Phipps, A. 2008. Languages and international events: are we ready to talk to the world in 2012? University of Southampton, Southampton Routes into Languages.
Languages and international events
Kelly, D. 2008. Languages and international events. HEFCE-funded report for Routes into Languages.
Crises of memory: victimisation and forgiveness
Kelly, D. 2008. Crises of memory: victimisation and forgiveness. Journal of Romance Studies. 8 (1), pp. 107-115. https://doi.org/10.3167/jrs.2008.080109
"War! What is it good for?" The work of the group for War and Culture Studies
Kelly, D. 2007. "War! What is it good for?" The work of the group for War and Culture Studies. Journal of War and Culture Studies. 1 (1), pp. 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1386/jwcs.1.1.3/2
'An unfinished death': the legacy of Albert Camus and the work of textual memory in contemporary European and Algerian literatures
Kelly, D. 2007. 'An unfinished death': the legacy of Albert Camus and the work of textual memory in contemporary European and Algerian literatures. International Journal of Francophone Studies. 10 (1&2), pp. 217-235. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijfs.10.1and2.217/1
Le premier homme and the literature of loss
Kelly, D. 2007. Le premier homme and the literature of loss. in: Hughes, E.J. (ed.) The Cambridge companion to Camus Cambridge ; New York Cambridge University Press. pp. 191-202
Pierre Albert-Birot et SIC: la revue comme lieu de combat et lieu de memoire
Kelly, D. 2006. Pierre Albert-Birot et SIC: la revue comme lieu de combat et lieu de memoire. in: Meazzi, B. and Madou, J.P. (ed.) Les oublie(e)s des avant-gardes Chambery, France Universite de Savoie.
Philippe Soupault and 'Ode a Londres bombarde': imprisonment, revolt, and images of resistance
Kelly, D. 2006. Philippe Soupault and 'Ode a Londres bombarde': imprisonment, revolt, and images of resistance. in: Thatcher, N. and Tolansky, E. (ed.) Six authors in captivity: literary responses to the occupation of France during World War II Oxford, UK Lang.
Entry on Pierre Albert-Birot
Kelly, D. 2006. Entry on Pierre Albert-Birot. in: Brulotte, G. and Phillips, J. (ed.) Encyclopedia of erotic literature Abingdon ; New York Routledge. pp. 18-20
The battlefield in text and image: remains and relics in the work of Cozette de Charmoy
Kelly, D. 2006. The battlefield in text and image: remains and relics in the work of Cozette de Charmoy. Forum for Modern Language Studies. 42 (1), pp. 51-79. https://doi.org/10.1093/fmls/cqi035
Autobiography and independence: selfhood and creativity in North African postcolonial writing in French
Kelly, D. 2005. Autobiography and independence: selfhood and creativity in North African postcolonial writing in French. Liverpool, UK Liverpool University Press.
Reflets dans "le miroir ebloui": Tardieu, Bazaine, Hartung
Kelly, D. 2003. Reflets dans "le miroir ebloui": Tardieu, Bazaine, Hartung. in: Lentengre, M.L. (ed.) Jean Tardieu: un poete parmi nous Paris, France Jean Michel Place. pp. 199-216
Identity, alienation and belonging: guillaume de kostrowitzky/guillaume apollonaire and the experience of war
Kelly, D. 2002. Identity, alienation and belonging: guillaume de kostrowitzky/guillaume apollonaire and the experience of war. in: Murphy, D. (ed.) Thresholds of otherness: identity and alterity in French-language literatures London, UK Grant & Cutler. pp. 151-173
Pierre Albert-Birot et La Guerre (1916)
Kelly, D. 2001. Pierre Albert-Birot et La Guerre (1916). in: Le Bon, L. (ed.) Parade Paris Editions du Centre Georges Pompidou.
Mythes et metaphores chez Assia Djebar et Abdelkebir Khatibi
Kelly, D. 2001. Mythes et metaphores chez Assia Djebar et Abdelkebir Khatibi. Le Maghreb Litteraire, revue Canadienne des litteratures maghrebines, Toronto. V (10), pp. 37-58.
Knowledge, self-knowledge and liberation: the quest of the writer in Assia Djebar’s L'Amour, la fantasia and vaste est la prison
Kelly, D. 2001. Knowledge, self-knowledge and liberation: the quest of the writer in Assia Djebar’s L'Amour, la fantasia and vaste est la prison. La Chouette. 31, pp. 19-26.
Introduction. War in the twentieth century: the functioning of humour in cultural representation
Holman, V. and Kelly, D. 2001. Introduction. War in the twentieth century: the functioning of humour in cultural representation. Journal of European Studies. 31 (123), pp. 247-263.
The politics of identity, the poetics of identity: issues in post-colonial autobiographical discourses in North African writing in French
Kelly, D. 2000. The politics of identity, the poetics of identity: issues in post-colonial autobiographical discourses in North African writing in French. Journal of Algerian Studies. 4&5, pp. 79-98.
Une poétique du fantastique: une lecture de Quelqu'un et Baga
Kelly, D. 2000. Une poétique du fantastique: une lecture de Quelqu'un et Baga. in: Liéber, J.C. and Renouard, M. (ed.) Le chantier Robert Pinget: colloque de Tours: textes inédits, documents, manuscrits, bibliographie: œuvres, théâtre, critique Paris Jean-Michel Place. pp. 187-200
"Ode à Londres bombardé": Philippe Soupault, la guerre, l’Angleterre
Kelly, D. 2000. "Ode à Londres bombardé": Philippe Soupault, la guerre, l’Angleterre. in: Sebbag, G. and Nabert, N. (ed.) Philippe Soupault ou l’ombre frissonnante Paris Jean-Michel Place. pp. 137-155
Committing to memory
Kelly, D. 2000. Committing to memory. in: Kelly, D. (ed.) Remembering and representing the experience of war in twentieth-century France Lewiston ; Lampeter Edward Mellen.
Myth and metaphor: the power of propoganda in twentieth-century warfare
Holman, V. and Kelly, D. 2000. Myth and metaphor: the power of propoganda in twentieth-century warfare. in: Holman, V. and Kelly, D. (ed.) France at war in the twentieth century: propaganda, myth and metaphor Oxford Berghahn.
A reading of the structures of La Guerre (1916) by Pierre Albert-Birot
Kelly, D. 1999. A reading of the structures of La Guerre (1916) by Pierre Albert-Birot. in: Heusser, M., Hannoosh, M., Hoek, L., Schoell-Glass, C. and Scott, D. (ed.) Text and visuality: word & image interactions III Amsterdam ; Atlanta, Ga Rodopi. pp. 129-138
'Committing to Memory': introduction to a cluster of papers selected from the GWACS 1998 Conference
Kelly, D. 1999. 'Committing to Memory': introduction to a cluster of papers selected from the GWACS 1998 Conference. Journal of the Institute of Romance Studies. 6, pp. 289-293.
"Les Fils du pauvre": poverty, knowledge and politics
Kelly, D. 1998. "Les Fils du pauvre": poverty, knowledge and politics. in: Dunwoodie, P. and Hughes, E.J. (ed.) Constructing memories : Camus, Algeria and Le premier homme Stirling Stirling French Publications.
Loss and recuperation, order and subversion: post-war painting in France 1945-51
Kelly, D. 1997. Loss and recuperation, order and subversion: post-war painting in France 1945-51. French Cultural Studies. 8 (22), pp. 53-66.
Une lecture de La Guerre: la matrice d'une poétique
Kelly, D. 1997. Une lecture de La Guerre: la matrice d'une poétique. in: Renouard, M. (ed.) Pierre Albert-Birot: laboratoire de modernité; Les états poétiques, poème inédit Paris Jean-Michel Place. pp. 65-78
Pierre Albert-Birot: a poetics in movement, a poetics of movement
Kelly, D. 1997. Pierre Albert-Birot: a poetics in movement, a poetics of movement. London and New Jersey Associated University Press.
Working with semiotic theory or, How can I believe what you tell me?
Kelly, D. 1996. Working with semiotic theory or, How can I believe what you tell me? La Chouette. Special Issue Semiotics and Interpretation, pp. 2-5.
From painter to poet: the visual poetry of Pierre Albert-Birot in la lune ou le livre des poèmes
Kelly, D. 1996. From painter to poet: the visual poetry of Pierre Albert-Birot in la lune ou le livre des poèmes. Forum for Modern Language Studies. XXXII (1), pp. 37-54. https://doi.org/10.1093/fmls/XXXII.1.37
Espace liminal et naissance du poème dans Le Quatrième état de la matière
Kelly, D. 1995. Espace liminal et naissance du poème dans Le Quatrième état de la matière. La Chouette. Special Issue on Lorand Gaspar, pp. 22-27.
Monsieur Phantasticus: modes of living and narrating
Kelly, D. 1991. Monsieur Phantasticus: modes of living and narrating. La Chouette. Special Issue on Robert Pinget, pp. 35-43.
"Et moi aussi je suis peintre": poetry, painting and the manipulation of typography
Kelly, D. 1990. "Et moi aussi je suis peintre": poetry, painting and the manipulation of typography. La Chouette. 23, pp. 29-47.
Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qzyw6/reading-signs-and-symbols-with-abdelk-bir-khatibi-from-the-body-to-the-text