Journal of Jewish Studies· 2026Q2
Disintegrating monads in the autobiographical writing of Sasson Somekh
- 0citations
- Q2SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Sasson Somekh's autobiographical works construct insulated literary systems ('monads') that simultaneously preserve memories as 'time capsules' and use narrative techniques like repetition and inconsistency to blur identity politics.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Somekh's autobiographical works create 'monadic' literary systems insulated from politics.
- These systems function as 'time capsules' preserving memory.
- Narrative techniques like repetition, reflection, and inconsistency are used to blur identity politics.
- In 'Life After Baghdad,' these monads become dynamic, influencing the social and political field.
- The author posits these monads offer a way to write a reconciled history between Jews and Arabs.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
In his autobiographical works Baghdad, Yesterday (2007) and Life After Baghdad (2008) Sasson Somekh writes his memories of Baghdad and Israel. Somekh acknowledges the complexity of Arab–Israeli realities but repeatedly diverts his gaze from them, constructing instead a monadic literary system insulated from politics. Within this literary framework he performs two contradictory yet complementary practices: on the one hand, he creates time capsules, sealed monads that enshrine and preserve the memory; on the other, he deploys mechanisms of repetition, reflection, bare dialogue, regressions and narrative inconsistency in order to blur the familiar story of identity politics. Thus, in Life After Baghdad , the monadic system no longer remains sealed but becomes capsules of time and space that influence and reshape the social and political field. The monads Somekh forges in his life and writing are revolutionary gestures, modes through which it becomes possible to write a reconciled history between Jews and Arabs, and between Israel and the Arab world.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Journal of Jewish Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Literature and Literary Theory
Literature and Literary TheoryArts and Humanities