Let the spectre speak: MDEILMM as a haunted and obliterated word in Hélène Cixous

Description

This paper explores the intersection of death, life, and language through Hélène Cixous’s book Mdeilmm: Parole de taupe. Cixous’s narrative is anchored in the anecdote that during the séances organized by Victor Hugo, he reportedly heard a
mysterious word from Shakespeare: Mdeilmm. This paper aims to analyse her approach to this phantasmagorical phenomenon, moving beyond a purely semiotic perspective. The paper interprets the text through the lens of negative discourse and Emmanuel Levinas’s concept of obliteration, placing particular emphasis on the sonorous qualities of the language associated with the phantasmagorical. By examining this phenomenon, the paper seeks to illuminate strategies for engaging with the ineffable and the seemingly indecipherable messages present within Cixous’s writing. Ultimately, this analysis aspires
to deepen our understanding of how language operates in the context of the uncanny and the transcendent, inviting further reflection on its implications.

Period	30 May 2024
Event title	A kind of magic: Interdisciplinary visions and insights of magic
Event type	Conference
Conference number	1
Location	Turin, ItalyShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International