Litterær eksistensforskning. Eksklusion og marginalisering i Naja Marie Aidts Bavian

Abstract Bavian (2006), Danish writer Naja Maria Aidt’s collection of short stories, is not only, as suggested by the title, about the animal in the human being. The stories are also about the ways human beings today are prone to exclude others. The texts are about people on the move and most often Aidt lets descriptions of bodily reactions and affect speak instead of talk and dialogue. However, it is significant for Aidt’s writing that the body never represents an idea about freedom – rather, the opposite of freedom. Moreover, personal freedom is not thought about as a way of escape to Aidt’s characters; it is more an alibi for disregarding others. The article suggests that Bavian maybe read as showing how ‘the naked life’ (Agamben) has been talking about is turning into a common lot.