Identität im Transit. Nicht-Orte und die Dissoziation des Subjekts in Terézia Moras Roman Der einzige Mann auf dem Kontinent

Abstract

Abstract Referring to Marc Augé’s theory of non-places, the article shows how the protagonist of Terézia Mora’s second novel Der einzige Mann auf dem Kontinent (2009) undergoes a process of dissociation when moving either in indistinguishable, non-identifiable non-places or in virtual worlds offered by the new media. These virtual worlds constitute transitory places which neither offer the protagonist any stability or fixed orientation points, nor do they place him in any permanent relationships. In addition, the article focuses on the metafictional level of the novel, where transitory movement through architextual system references plays a central role. The text, I would argue, creates an infinite movement by means of such system references, thus putting not only the protagonist, but also the text itself into a permanently oscillating transitional movement.