From Law and Literature to Legality and Affect

From Law and Literature attempts (and to some extent succeeds) to create a profound theoretical framework for the art of law (so called ‘jurisliterature’).

Greta Olson argues that ‘the law has gone pop’ and therefore there is a need to reconceptualise the relationship between law and literature, and to use law and literature to understand the relations between legality and affects. In this new and original scenario lies the main justification for a new study on the topic. The author offers an original methodology to approach legal analysis on law literature and culture, making a case to keep the cultural legal narratology (in literary theory, the study of narrative structure) within the traditional approach to law.

Olson attempts to broaden people’s perception of law, moving from the basic legal framework to the feelings of people about the legal framework.

Specific focus is placed on what people perceive (pushed by their cultural environment) to be legal or not legal (hence the concept of legality). In other words, there is a shift from finding a way to circumvent the law to obtain what someone wants, to obey the law in complying with what the law authorises.

Olson’s book is highly thought-provoking but perhaps its audience is quite narrow. It will be of most interest to jurisprudence PhDs, researchers and scholars in general who aim to delve into the interdisciplinary study of law and literature.

Dr Carlo Corcione is a lawyer and manager who specialises in trade, shipping and logistics