Irony and humor as a means of survival: on the poetry and prose of Alen Golež

Slovenian author Alen Golež employs irony and humor as survival mechanisms in his literary works, offering a unique lens through which to view contemporary crises and looming catastrophes. His writing is characterized by a dynamic use of language, incorporating Anglicisms, neologisms, and even rare Slovenian words, creating fresh and often unpredictable combinations that reflect the vitality of the language itself.

Golež's literary worlds mirror our own reality, hurtling towards crises and hinting at impending disasters. However, instead of succumbing to despair, he confronts these situations with masterful irony, sometimes sharp, sometimes humorous. This approach allows him to explore the discrepancies between the external world and an individual's inner life, particularly when that individual clings to self-judgment and a higher purpose, even while acknowledging the gravity of their circumstances.

In his story "Blessed in the Swamp," set in a dystopian 2084, the protagonist communicates via email with a former love. The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of environmental decay, where cockroaches deliver mail, wildlife is scarce, and the air is thick with swamp chlorophyll. University students are chronically tired and confused, and professors are described as "almost invariably disabled persons, unevenly bald, puffy, and simultaneously sickly thin." This potent imagery paints a grim picture of a potential near future.

However, the story's dystopia is not all-encompassing, being confined to "Pantano Libre." This limitation provides Golež space for irony, enabling him to question the priorities and decisions of modern individuals. The protagonist chooses education amidst the swamp's toxic fumes, seeking knowledge and escaping "tedious aimlessness." The narrative voice frequently questions its own writing process, digressing and returning with meta-narrative comments, further enriching the character and the electronic mail format through interjections like "haha" and "mah."