In the first very special episode of tipsyturvy Ulysses, Eric, Wendy, and Shinjini set aside the next episode of Ulysses in favor of a Joycean digression. Eric introduces Wendy and Shinjini to some of his favorite allusions to and imitations of “Calypso”—specifically, a passage from Zoë Wicomb’s David’s Story (2000) and a response to a short story assignment from a class in which Eric taught Ulysses.
(If Joyce has any serious competition in Eric's heart, it's Zoë Wicomb.)
Recommended Resources:
- Eric’s article on Ulysses intertexts: “Tupperware and Flowerville: Consumerism, identity politics, and intertextuality in David’s Story and Ulysses”
- The novels of Zoë Wicomb, especially David’s Story and Playing in the Light
- Wicomb’s essay about “coloured” identity and immediately post-apartheid politics in South Africa: “Shame and identity in the case of the coloured in South Africa”
- A great essay about the history of “coloured” identity in South Africa during and after apartheid: Mohamed Adhikari, “Hope, Fear, Shame, Frustration: Continuity and Change in the Expression of Coloured Identity in White Supremacist South Africa, 1910-1994”
- Eric’s style imitation assignment
Theme song: “Come on Over” by Scalcairn, via Blue Dot Sessions
Special thanks to Carin Goldberg, whose cover design for the Gabler edition inspired our logo, and Caroline Smith, who allowed us to read and discuss her excellent short story.
Eric recently discussed Ulysses as a guest on the library research podcast Lost in the Stacks with future tipsyturvy Ulysses guest Charlie Bennett as part of their ongoing series "How to Read a Book."