The Time of Metamorphoses (Experiencing Kafka)

More than a century ago, the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect is the subject of numerous interpretations. Is this an unsuccessful attempt to rebel against the crushing mechanisms of society? Has he revolted as far as he rejects the programming effects of the logos and turned to the music? Is this metamorphosis sudden or stretched over time? Is there a metamorphosis at all?

The Sofia Literary Workshop, organized by Radosvet Kolarov, Darin Tenev, Miglena Nikolchina, Kamelia Spassova, Maria Kalinova, Enyo Stoyanov and Boyan Manchev, illuminated nearly two years of careful reading of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. From the perspective of this story in the articles included in this volume, the authors try to offer their own perspective to heterogeneous trends in contemporary philosophical and literary debates. The central approach is the concept of metamorphosis" and the possibility to think constructively of fiction and fictional worlds. The more general pledge of collective effort is the question of the status of literary theory today.