Pisanie od rzeczy? Perec/Latronico i mowa przedmiotów
Writing (from) Things? Perec/Latronico and the Discourse of Objects

Summary/Abstract: Georges Perec, an author affiliated with Oulipo, is known for his formal experimentation and a marked preoccupation with the cataloging of reality. He articulates the real through objects, spaces, and the minutiae of everyday life, which not only constitute a backdrop but also function as carriers of memory and affect. In Perec’s novel Things, objects effectively assume quasi-narrative agency: they recount the protagonists’ trajectories, disclose their desires, and expose the illusory nature of happiness. The proliferation of material goods does not yield fulfillment; rather, it reveals the emptiness and superficiality inherent in consumerist aspirations. Perec approaches this “game” with methodological rigor – experimenting with form and linguistic material while consistently placing these procedures in the service of a deeper reflection on the human condition. The article juxtaposes Perec’s oeuvre with Vincenzo Latronico’s novel Perfection, which similarly interrogates the relationship between material objects and identity. Both authors demonstrate that objects, despite their materiality, can serve as portals to emotions, memories, and existential crises. Materiality thus becomes a semiotic medium through which the condition of the contemporary subject is articulated.

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