Great Gatsby session. Link for the recording
Melus Melow
Meeting assets for PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE GREAT GATSBY are ready!
Meeting summary
Quick recap
The meeting began with introductions and casual conversation before transitioning into the 19th session of Mellow Musings, a literary discussion series focused on F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" to mark its 100th anniversary. Six presenters shared their perspectives on various aspects of the novel, including its themes, symbolism, and cultural significance, with discussions covering the American Dream, capitalism, consumerism, and the tragic hero Jay Gatsby. The session concluded with plans for a future discussion on Nobel laureate Laszlo Krasznahorkai and suggestions to develop the presented perspectives into a book.
Next steps
- Oni Krishnan to give a talk on the new Nobel Laureate Laszlo Krasznahorkai on October 30th.
- Ishtiak and Asmita to continue creating posters for future Mellow Musings sessions.
- Roshan to explore the possibility of developing the six perspectives on The Great Gatsby presented during the session into chapters for a potential book.
- All participants to read up on Nobel Laureate Laszlo Krasznahorkai before the next session on October 30th.
Summary
Participant Introductions and Technical Issues
The meeting began with introductions and casual conversation among participants, including discussions about travel, literature, and personal projects. Participants mentioned their locations, with some expressing a desire to visit Istanbul, and shared updates on their current work, including a book on aging by Gönül. The conversation ended with technical issues regarding connectivity and audio, and Manpreet was tasked with managing participant access and ensuring everyone was added to the meeting.
Exploring 'The Great Gatsby
The 19th session of Mellow Musings, a literary discussion series, focused on F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" to mark its 100th anniversary. The session featured a panel of speakers discussing various aspects of the novel, including the Jazz Age, the American Dream, Gatsby as a tragic hero, and the aesthetics and symbolism of the work. The discussion explored themes of dreams, disillusionment, and the desire to belong, while also examining the novel's critique of capitalism, consumerism, and gender roles. The event, which was attended by about 40 people, was recorded and will be made available on YouTube.
Jazz Age: Cultural and Social Impact
Sunaina provided a comprehensive overview of the Jazz Age, highlighting its cultural, social, and historical significance. She discussed the birth of jazz in African American communities, its rise as a mainstream art form, and the era's cultural rebellion against traditional values. She also touched on the economic boom, the rise of speakeasies, and the emergence of flappers as symbols of youth culture. Debarati was scheduled to speak about Gatsby and the American Dream but was mistakenly introduced before Neeraj, who was to discuss Gatsby as a tragic hero.
Revisiting the American Dream
Debarati discussed the evolution of the American Dream from its origins in 1776 to its critique by James Truslow Adams in 1931, using F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" as a lens to explore its complexities. She examined how characters like Jay Gatsby pursued wealth and status, highlighting the contrast between their aspirations and the reality of a society marked by increasing inequality. Debarati questioned whether the American Dream remains relevant today, considering the challenges faced by various groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, and the difficulties of achieving upward mobility through hard work alone. The discussion left open the question of whether the American Dream is an illusion or a viable pursuit in the modern era.
Gatsby's Tragic Quest for Love
Neeraj discussed Jay Gatsby as a tragic hero in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," exploring how Gatsby's noble nature, self-made status, and pursuit of an idealized past align with classical tragic hero characteristics. He highlighted Gatsby's tragic flaw as his inability to distinguish between illusion and reality, which leads to his downfall. Neeraj compared Gatsby to figures like Oedipus and Hamlet, emphasizing how Gatsby's tragedy unfolds in the modern world of the Jazz Age, marked by ambition, illusion, and moral emptiness. He concluded that Gatsby's eternal struggle reflects the human condition, making his tragedy resonate with readers as a symbol of universal human aspirations and limitations.
Gatsby's Tragic American Dream
Manpreet discussed the character of Gatsby, focusing on why he is considered "great" despite his tragic end. She explored the American Dream's emphasis on self-made success and material wealth, noting how Gatsby embodies these ideals through his rags-to-riches story and unwavering hope. Manpreet also highlighted Fitzgerald's critique of a society that has become overly materialistic, where Gatsby becomes a victim of the very values he represents. She concluded by acknowledging the ongoing allure of the American Dream, even as it is critiqued.
Unexplored Homosexuality in The Great Gatsby
Manpreet presented a scholarly analysis of The Great Gatsby, focusing on previously unexplored homosexual undertones in the novel. She highlighted how Nick Carraway's descriptions of male characters, particularly Tom Buchanan and Jay Gatsby, exhibit homoerotic language that has been overlooked in traditional feminist readings. The discussion revealed how the novel, written in the 1920s, subtly addresses themes of friendship, admiration, and longing that defy easy categorization, suggesting the text remains relevant for contemporary gender scholars.
Visual Aesthetics in Gatsby
Sumana presented a detailed analysis of the visual aesthetics in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," highlighting how the novel's visual elements, such as the glittering parties and opulent mansions, resonated with American soldiers during World War II. She discussed how Fitzgerald's use of visual culture, including cinema and advertising, influenced the novel's immersive and emotionally resonant style, transforming it from a modestly received text into a cultural icon. Gönül was introduced as the next speaker, who would discuss the symbolism in "The Great Gatsby," focusing on how Fitzgerald employs symbols through places, names, colors, and objects to convey deeper meanings.
Symbolism in The Great Gatsby
The discussion focused on the symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," where Gönül explained various symbols including Dr. T.J. Eckleburg's eyes, the Valley of Ashes, and color symbolism representing themes of the American Dream, wealth, and social class. The panel then transitioned to welcome Professor Anil Prasad, who was scheduled to speak about capitalism and consumerism in the novel, though the transcript ended before he began his presentation.
Capitalism in 'The Great Gatsby
Anil discussed F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" as a critique of capitalism and consumer culture, highlighting how Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and status reflects broader societal issues. He explored how the novel's setting, characters, and imagery reveal the illusions and moral bankruptcy of consumer capitalism, while also connecting Gatsby's story to modern concerns about digital consumerism and inequality. The discussion concluded with a comparison between Gatsby and T.S. Eliot's J. Alfred Prufrock, drawing parallels between their outsider status and struggles with societal norms.
The Great Gatsby: Themes and Adaptations
The group discussed F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," focusing on its themes of the American Dream, consumerism, and the tragic hero Jay Gatsby. They analyzed the novel's symbolism, including the green light and the eyes of Ecclberg, as well as its adaptations into films, operas, and a graphic novel. Anil shared insights on the novel's reception and its comparison to other works, while the participants explored Gatsby's character and the moral complexities of his actions. The conversation ended with plans for a future session on the new Nobel laureate, Laszlo Krasznahorkai, to be led by Oni Krishnan on October 30th.
Great Gatsby: Themes and Insights
The meeting focused on a discussion of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," where six presenters shared their perspectives on the novel. Roshan proposed developing these perspectives into a book, similar to previous conferences. The discussion explored themes such as the American dream, moral decay, consumerism, and the novel's relevance to contemporary issues. The session concluded with plans for a future discussion on the Nobel laureate Laszlo Krasznahorkai on October 30th.
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