Ephemeral in Literature and Literary Theory

Ephemeral: Etymology, Meanings and Concept

Etymology/Term:

The word “ephemeral” traces its roots to the Greek word “ephēmeros,” where “epi” means “on” and “hēmera” means “day.” Thus, its literal translation is “lasting only for a day.” Over time, the term has evolved to encompass a broader sense of transience and fleeting nature.

Meanings and Concept:

• Short-lived: Ephemeral refers to things that have a brief duration, existence, or lifespan.
• Transient Nature: It implies impermanence and the idea that something is fleeting, lasting only for a short period.
• Temporal Significance: Often used to describe experiences, moments, or phenomena that are significant but momentary, emphasizing the value in their brevity.
• Ephemeral Art and Media: In the context of art and media, it refers to works that are temporary, such as performance art, street art, or certain digital content that exists for a limited time.
• Natural Phenomena: Ephemeral can describe natural occurrences like flowers blooming for a short season or ice sculptures melting away.

Ephemeral: Definition of a Theoretical Term

Ephemeral, in a theoretical context, refers to the inherent transience or short-lived nature of a phenomenon or concept. It suggests a limited duration or existence within a specific temporal framework, emphasizing the impermanence of the subject under consideration. Theoretical discussions often invoke the concept of ephemeral to underscore the fleeting and time-bound aspects inherent in certain abstract or concrete elements of study.

Ephemeral: Theorists, Works and Argument

1. Walter Benjamin:
   • Work: “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction” (1936).
   • Argument: Benjamin explores the impact of mass production on art, arguing that mechanical reproduction diminishes the aura of an artwork, making it more ephemeral and accessible.
2. Guy Debord:
   • Work: “The Society of the Spectacle” (1967).
   • Argument: Debord’s concept of the spectacle delves into the ephemeral nature of modern society, where images and experiences become transient commodities, leading to a detachment from authentic human experience.
3. Jean Baudrillard:
   • Work: “Simulacra and Simulation” (1981).
   • Argument: Baudrillard examines the proliferation of simulations in contemporary culture, suggesting that reality itself has become ephemeral as simulations replace genuine experiences.
4. Performance Art Theorists (e.g., Peggy Phelan):
   • Work: “Unmarked: The Politics of Performance” (1993).
   • Argument: Phelan discusses the ephemerality of performance art, asserting that its unique quality lies in the fact that it can only exist in the moment of its enactment and leaves no tangible trace.

These theorists and their works contribute to the understanding of ephemeral aspects in diverse domains, exploring the temporal, fleeting nature of phenomena, whether in art, society, or cultural production.

Ephemeral: Major Characteristics

1. Brief Duration:
   • Description: Ephemeral things have a short lifespan, lasting only for a brief period.
   • Literary Example: The beauty of a sunset is ephemeral, as the colors quickly fade away.
2. Transient Nature:
   • Description: Ephemeral entities exist for a short time and then cease to exist.
   • Literary Example: In John Keats’ poem “Ode to a Nightingale,” he reflects on the fleeting nature of joy and beauty, emphasizing their transient existence.
3. Susceptibility to Change:
   • Description: Ephemeral things are subject to rapid and unpredictable change.
   • Literary Example: The changing seasons, such as the blossoming of flowers in spring, exemplify the ephemeral nature of nature’s cycles.
4. Vivid Intensity:
   • Description: Ephemeral moments often possess a vivid and intense quality, making them stand out.
   • Literary Example: In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” the character Jay Gatsby’s extravagant parties are described as ephemeral displays of wealth and excess.
5. Emotional Impact:
   • Description: Ephemeral experiences can evoke strong emotions due to their fleeting nature.
   • Literary Example: Shakespeare’s sonnet 73 reflects on the aging process and the fleeting nature of life, using the changing seasons as a metaphor.
6. Beauty in Impermanence:
   • Description: Ephemeral things are often appreciated for their beauty precisely because of their impermanence.
   • Literary Example: The Japanese concept of “mono no aware” celebrates the beauty of impermanence, as seen in haiku poems that capture fleeting moments in nature.
7. Symbolic Representations:
   • Description: Ephemeral elements are often used as symbols for the transient nature of life.
   • Literary Example: The melting snow in Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” serves as a symbolic representation of the passing of time.
8. Reflective Quality:
   • Description: Ephemeral experiences often lead to reflection on the passage of time and the impermanence of life.
   • Literary Example: The novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde explores the consequences of pursuing ephemeral pleasures and the decay that comes with them.

These characteristics and examples illustrate the diverse ways in which the concept of ephemeral is explored in literature, capturing the essence of fleeting moments and the impermanence inherent in various aspects of life.

Ephemeral: Relevance in Literary Theories

Literary Theory	Relevance of Ephemeral	Example(s)
Romanticism	Embraces the fleeting nature of emotions and experiences, exploring the sublime and the transient beauty of nature.	In John Keats’ “Ode to a Nightingale,” Keats reflects on the ephemeral nature of joy and the transient beauty of life.
Symbolism	Uses symbols to convey deeper meanings; ephemeral symbols may represent the transient nature of existence.	The symbol of a fading flower in a poem could represent the ephemeralist nature of beauty and life.
Modernism	Explores fragmentation and the breakdown of traditional structures, reflecting the impermanence of societal norms and values.	T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” is a modernist work that captures the fragmented and ephemeralist nature of post-World War I society.
Existentialism	Emphasizes the individual’s experience of existence, often addressing the fleeting and often absurd nature of life.	Albert Camus’ “The Stranger” portrays the protagonist’s indifferent and ephemeralist attitude toward life.
Postmodernism	Challenges traditional notions of stability and permanence, embracing the fluid and transient aspects of culture and identity.	Italo Calvino’s “If on a winter’s night a traveler” plays with narrative structures, highlighting the ephemeralist nature of storytelling.
Ecocriticism	Explores the relationship between literature and the environment, acknowledging the transient nature of ecosystems and the impact of human activities.	In works like Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” the ephemeralist state of ecosystems is addressed, emphasizing the fragility of the environment.
Feminist Criticism	Examines issues related to gender and power; may explore the ephemeralist nature of societal expectations and gender roles.	Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando” challenges traditional gender roles, emphasizing the ephemeralist nature of societal expectations.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Explores the unconscious mind and the ephemeralist nature of repressed desires and memories.	In the works of Sigmund Freud, dreams and memories often carry ephemeralist and symbolic significance.

This table illustrates how the concept can be relevant across a range of literary theories, influencing the themes, symbols, and structures found in diverse literary works.

Ephemeral: Application in Critiques

1. Stoner by John Williams:
   • Application of Ephemeral:
     • The novel delves into the life of William Stoner, highlighting the ephemeralist nature of personal ambitions and the transient moments that shape an individual’s existence.
   • Critique:
     • Williams skillfully captures the fleeting nature of relationships, career aspirations, and personal identity, creating a poignant narrative that reflects on the ephemeralist quality of a seemingly ordinary life.
2. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón:
   • Application of Ephemeral:
     • Zafón’s novel explores the ephemeralist nature of literature, memory, and the impact of political upheaval on individual lives in post-World War II Barcelona.
   • Critique:
     • Through a labyrinthine plot, Zafón weaves a tale that emphasizes how books and memories can be both transient and enduring, making a compelling commentary on the ephemeral nature of cultural and personal legacies.
3. The Vegetarian by Han Kang:
   • Application of Ephemeral:
     • This South Korean novel explores the ephemeralist nature of societal expectations, personal autonomy, and mental well-being as the protagonist’s life takes unexpected turns.
   • Critique:
     • Han Kang’s work delves into the fragile nature of identity and societal norms, using surreal and haunting imagery to depict the ephemeralist quality of personal agency in the face of societal pressures.
4. The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal:
   • Application of Ephemeral:
     • De Waal’s memoir explores the ephemeral nature of family history and the legacy of a collection of netsuke figurines, tracing their journey across generations and continents.
   • Critique:
     • Through a blend of personal narrative and historical inquiry, de Waal reflects on the impermanence of material possessions, the ephemerality of cultural heritage, and the impact of time on family narratives.

In these critiques, the concept is applied to analyze lesser-known works, showcasing how authors explore the transient nature of personal and cultural experiences, relationships, and legacies. The chosen novels offer unique perspectives on the fleeting aspects of life, providing readers with thought-provoking reflections on the ephemeral quality of existence.

Ephemeral: Relevant Terms

Theoretical Term	Brief Definition
Transience	The state of being temporary or impermanent.
Ephemeralization	The process of becoming more ephemeral or less substantial.
Temporality	The concept of time and its influence on events and themes.
Fleeting Narratives	Narratives characterized by brevity and transitory themes.
Vanishing Points	Critical perspectives that emphasize the impermanence of ideas.
Transient Aesthetics	Aesthetic qualities that evoke the ephemeral and fleeting.
Momentariness	The quality of being momentary or existing for a brief moment.
Impermanence	The state of lacking permanence; temporary nature.
Ephemeral Realism	Literary realism that captures transient aspects of life.
Evanescent Symbolism	Symbolic elements representing the fleeting and vanishing.

Ephemeral: Suggested Readings

1. Barthes, Roland. Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography. Hill and Wang, 1981.
2. Calvino, Italo. Invisible Cities. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1974.
3. Carson, Rachel. Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin, 1962.
4. Han Kang. The Vegetarian. Hogarth, 2015.
5. Keats, John. Selected Poems. Dover Publications, 1991.
6. Márquez, Gabriel García. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Harper & Row, 1970.
7. Ruiz Zafón, Carlos. The Shadow of the Wind. Penguin Books, 2001.
8. Williams, John. Stoner. NYRB Classics, 2006.
9. Woolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse. Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1927.
10. Zafón, Carlos Ruiz. The Angel’s Game. Penguin Books, 2009.