I noticed a stunning contrast between the reports on the recent Bible and Critical Theory Seminar by Stalin’s Moustache and the Dunedin School, concerning Judith McKinlay’s paper on Zelophehad’s daughters.
The contrast nicely illustrates what narratologists refer to as the focalization of objects by different focalizers – and has the result of providing two quite different impressions of events.
Here’s how the Dunedin School viewed Judith McKinlay’s paper (note the scholarly books in the background and Judith’s upright posture):
Judith McKinlay - Focalization 1
And here is how the same event looked, through the alkoholfrei beer goggles at Stalin’s Moustache:
Judith McKinlay - Focalization 2
Makes you appreciate how easily a little tweak in focalization can give an entirely different picture of events, doesn’t it?!
The Dunedin School 