Novelist Elif Shafak: ‘Writers are the memory keepers’

2024/12/16

Life and Art from FT Weekend

Elif Shafak

Laila Raptopoulos

Elif Shafak: 我认为人们可以通过挖掘家族故事和沉默来连接过去，不同代人与记忆的关系各不相同。第一代人可能沉默，第二代人可能不关注，而第三代或第四代人则会开始追问。作家和诗人是他们所在社会的记忆守护者。小说可以作为学习历史的场所，因为它包含事实，并以不同的方式呈现事实。小说能使我们更接近真相，因为它以独特的方式讲述真相，并通过情感和故事使我们更接近真相。小说包含生活中的方方面面，包括政治、心理学、历史、哲学以及情商。小说家像语言学家或文化考古学家一样，需要挖掘故事和沉默的层次来发现未被讲述的故事，并将被非人化的人重新人性化。为了理解日常生活及其美丽、复杂性以及有时暴行，我们需要关注口述历史和书面历史，因为书面文化容易遗忘的东西，口述文化有时会记住。小说应该成为书面文化和口述文化之间的桥梁，因为口述文化中包含许多书面文化未涵盖的知识和智慧。 Laila Raptopoulos: 我认为怀旧情绪可以是积极的，也可以是消极的，积极的怀旧是渴望一种可能并不完全存在的联系或社区感，而消极的怀旧则是一种试图回到过去的倒退行为。我们需要建立三种层面的联系：彼此之间、与自然之间以及内在的联系。我们需要区分信息、知识和智慧，并重视知识和智慧，而不是仅仅关注信息。不要害怕负面情绪，要诚实面对它们，然后从中前进。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why does Elif Shafak consider writers as memory keepers?

Writers preserve stories and silences, especially in families or societies that have experienced displacement or immigration. They help uncover untold stories and rehumanize those who have been dehumanized.

How does Elif Shafak view the role of fiction in understanding truth?

Fiction brings us closer to truth by conveying it through emotions and stories, making it more relatable and impactful than dry factual accounts. It encompasses politics, history, and emotional intelligence, offering a holistic view of life.

Why does Elif Shafak emphasize the importance of oral traditions in storytelling?

Oral traditions, such as folk tales and ballads, often remember what written history conveniently forgets. They reflect deep fears and cultural wisdom, making them crucial for understanding daily life and collective memory.

What is the central theme of Elif Shafak's novel 'There Are Rivers in the Sky'?

The novel explores the interconnectedness of characters across continents and generations through a drop of water, emphasizing the global freshwater crisis and its impact on communities, especially in the Middle East.

How does Elif Shafak portray the Yazidi community in her novel?

The Yazidi community is depicted as a vulnerable yet resilient group, heavily reliant on oral traditions for identity and memory. The novel highlights their persecution, including the poisoning of their water sources and the targeting of the elderly, which threatens their collective memory.

What does Elif Shafak think about nostalgia and its role in modern society?

Shafak distinguishes between reflective nostalgia (a yearning for connection) and restorative nostalgia (a dangerous attempt to return to the past). She warns against nostalgia being exploited by demagogues for nationalist purposes, advocating for a forward-looking, inclusive approach.

How does Elif Shafak suggest we cope with feelings of anxiety and powerlessness in today's world?

Shafak encourages turning anger and anxiety into constructive actions, such as writing, music, or activism. She emphasizes the importance of connecting with others, nature, and our inner selves to navigate an anxious world.

Shownotes Transcript

Elif Shafak’s new novel brings together four stories set in three different centuries: ancient Mesopotamia, 19th century London, a Yazidi village in 2014, and the present day. It connects them through the epic of Gilgamesh, and a single drop of fresh water. Making history come alive is one of Elif’s many talents, and today she shares her thoughts on how novels can fill in the gaps in authorised history. She also talks with Lilah about the importance of the unwritten word — and why she looks to oral traditions to make sense of the past.

**As you know, the show is ending in early January – we’re still collecting your cultural questions. **What’s rolling around in your head? How can we help? Email Lilah at [email protected]) or message her on Instagram @lilahrap).

Links (all FT links get you past the paywall):

– Elif Shafak’s new novel There are Rivers in the Sky, is out now in the US and the UK

– Read the FT’s review of the book here: https://on.ft.com/4gC9cWd)

– Lilah spoke with Elif about her previous novel *The Island of Missing Trees *and the stories we tell ourselves back in 2020. Listen to that interview here)

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com)

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