The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading

Petro Alexiou

The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading

Petro Alexiou

Department of Media, Music, Communication and Cultural Studies

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper examines how the writer Alekos Doukas (1900–1962) has been read and interpreted in later years as a migrant intellectual and socialist. I argue that Doukas has become a figure of myth through a process of oral and written transmission. He is invariably represented as a unitary socialist subject who encapsulates the experience and revolutionary consciousness of a migrant collectivity. Many writers refer to Doukas’ life and experiences through a quite literal reading of his postwar novels. How do we account for the reading of his fiction as fact? We need to explore the function of myth and its discursive shaping of migrant narratives of the past and present.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Greek research in Australia
Subtitle of host publication	proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007
Editors	Elizabeth Close, George Couvalis, George Frazis, Maria Palaktsoglou, Michael Tsianikasm
Place of Publication	Adelaide
Publisher	Flinders University
Pages	143-154
Number of pages	12
ISBN (Print)	9780725811341
Publication status	Published - 2009
Event	Conference of Greek Studies (7th : 2007) - Adelaide Duration: 28 Jun 2007 → 1 Jul 2007

Publication series

Name	Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies
Publisher	Flinders University

Conference

Conference	Conference of Greek Studies (7th : 2007)
City	Adelaide
Period	28/06/07 → 1/07/07

Keywords

Greek-Australian literary history
migrant history
Australian cultural history

Access to Document

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 802 KBLicence: Unspecified

Cite this

Alexiou, P. (2009). The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading. In E. Close, G. Couvalis, G. Frazis, M. Palaktsoglou, & M. Tsianikasm (Eds.), Greek research in Australia: proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007 (pp. 143-154). (Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies). Flinders University.

Alexiou, Petro. / The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas : a critical counter reading. Greek research in Australia: proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007. editor / Elizabeth Close ; George Couvalis ; George Frazis ; Maria Palaktsoglou ; Michael Tsianikasm. Adelaide : Flinders University, 2009. pp. 143-154 (Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies).

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abstract = "This paper examines how the writer Alekos Doukas (1900–1962) has been read and interpreted in later years as a migrant intellectual and socialist. I argue that Doukas has become a figure of myth through a process of oral and written transmission. He is invariably represented as a unitary socialist subject who encapsulates the experience and revolutionary consciousness of a migrant collectivity. Many writers refer to Doukas{\textquoteright} life and experiences through a quite literal reading of his postwar novels. How do we account for the reading of his fiction as fact? We need to explore the function of myth and its discursive shaping of migrant narratives of the past and present.",

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editor = "Elizabeth Close and George Couvalis and George Frazis and Maria Palaktsoglou and Michael Tsianikasm",

booktitle = "Greek research in Australia",

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note = "Conference of Greek Studies (7th : 2007) ; Conference date: 28-06-2007 Through 01-07-2007",

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Alexiou, P 2009, The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading. in E Close, G Couvalis, G Frazis, M Palaktsoglou & M Tsianikasm (eds), Greek research in Australia: proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007. Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, pp. 143-154, Conference of Greek Studies (7th : 2007), Adelaide, 28/06/07.

The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading. / Alexiou, Petro.
Greek research in Australia: proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007. ed. / Elizabeth Close; George Couvalis; George Frazis; Maria Palaktsoglou; Michael Tsianikasm. Adelaide: Flinders University, 2009. p. 143-154 (Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

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AB - This paper examines how the writer Alekos Doukas (1900–1962) has been read and interpreted in later years as a migrant intellectual and socialist. I argue that Doukas has become a figure of myth through a process of oral and written transmission. He is invariably represented as a unitary socialist subject who encapsulates the experience and revolutionary consciousness of a migrant collectivity. Many writers refer to Doukas’ life and experiences through a quite literal reading of his postwar novels. How do we account for the reading of his fiction as fact? We need to explore the function of myth and its discursive shaping of migrant narratives of the past and present.

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KW - Australian cultural history

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SN - 9780725811341

T3 - Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies

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EP - 154

BT - Greek research in Australia

A2 - Close, Elizabeth

A2 - Couvalis, George

A2 - Frazis, George

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Alexiou P. The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading. In Close E, Couvalis G, Frazis G, Palaktsoglou M, Tsianikasm M, editors, Greek research in Australia: proceedings of the seventh biennial international Conference of Greek Studies, Flinders University, June 2007. Adelaide: Flinders University. 2009. p. 143-154. (Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies).

The 'Legend' of Alekos Doukas: a critical counter reading

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