Other artistic encounters

Abstract

[eng] This chapter investigates artistic encounters facilitated by forms of intermediality other than intertextuality (analysed in Chapter 7) and ekphrasis (discussed in Chapter 8). It first focuses on Smith’s intentional use of artwork to fuse text and paratext, further pushing the boundaries of the novel form. This includes an extensive analysis of the post-referendum quintet’s front cover artwork by David Hockney, revealing its role as a visual expression of Smith’s text. The discussion of the complex web of art encounters facilitated by Smith’s novels concludes with a final section in which the way Smith engages characters in—and exposes readers to—the art of storytelling is also scrutinised. The analysis reveals an important ethical dimension in Smith’s fiction, highlighting her belief in the transformative power of literature and the arts.