Shock and Naturalization - An Inquiry into the Perception of Modernity

Aug 21, 2026

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A doctoral thesis exploring how modernity is perceived through shock and its social naturalization. Building on sociological and literary inquiry, the study traces concepts such as aura, spleen, and the protective shield of consciousness, then examines strategies that shape the “good life” under shock. It analyzes key literary figures and montages to explain how modernity becomes “second nature,” addressing non-sociality, boredom, and nostalgia for shock. The work concludes by synthesizing these arguments within sociology and literature.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages266

Reading Time11 h 10 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Introduction

Aims

Sociology and literature

chapter 1: Shock-modernity

1-1: Shock

1-2: Aura

1-3: Spleen and the protective shield of consciousness

1-4: Hell and the dilemma of shock-modernity

chapter 2: Strategies in shock-modernity

2-1: Two ideals ofthe good life

2-2: Kawabata Yasunari: shock and the reunion with inner nature

2-3: Abe Kôbô and the triumph of shock

chapter 3: Montages

chapter 4: Naturalized modernity

4-1: "Second nature"

4-2: Naturalization

4-3: Non-sociality

4-4: Hades

chapter 5: Strategies in naturalized modernity

5-1: Murakami Haruki: loneliness and waiting

5-2: Murakami Ryû: boredom and the nostalgia for shock

chapter 6: Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Shock and Naturalization An Inquiry into the Perception of Modernity Cassegård, Carl 2002 Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Cassegård, C. (2002) . Shock and Naturalization: An Inquiry into the Perception of Modernity. [Doctoral Thesis (monograph), Sociology] . Carl Cassegård, Stjärng. 15, 234 31 Lomma,. Total number of authors: 1 General rights Unless other specific re-use rights are stated the following general rights apply: Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. • Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research. • You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Read more about Creative commons licenses: [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/) Take down policy If you believe that this document breaches copyright please contact us providing details, and we will remove access to the work immediately and investigate your claim. Download date: 21. Aug. 2026 Contents Preface 7 Introduction 9 Aims 11 Sociology and literature 19 chapter 1 Shock-modernity 27 1-1: Shock 29 1-2: Aura 41 1-3: Spleen and the protective shield of consciousness 50 1-4: Hell and the dilemma of shock-modernity 56 chapter 2 Strategies in shock-modernity 63 2-1: Two ideals ofthe good life 63 2-2: Kawabata Yasunari: shock and the reunion with inner nature 76 2-3: Abe Kôbô and the triumph of shock 91 chapter 3 Montages 103 chapter 4 Naturalized modernity 121 4-1: "Second nature" 125 4-2: Naturalization 128 4-3: Non-sociality 137 4-4: Hades 147 chapter 5 Strategies in naturalized modernity 167 5-1: Murakami Haruki: loneliness and waiting 167 5-2: Murakami Ryû: boredom and the nostalgia for shock 188 chapter 6 Conclusion 203 Notes 207 Bibliography 227 Previous publications 239 Biographical reference of Japanese writers 240 Index 244 Preface Tirelessly the process of thinking makes new beginnings, returning in aroundabout way to its original object. This continual pausing for breath is the mode most proper to the process of contemplation. û Walter Benjamin (1985: 28) This book is an exercise in rethinking. The impulse to think something over once again always has a twofold origin. To begin with, something is encountered which promises to put an old thought in a new light. But, secondly, this novelty is not yet sure of how to understand itself and turns to the old to beg for clues. Such novelties are often encountered in literature, and what provides the clues û and at the same time often needs to be rethought û is of course sociology. Here I would like to express my great indebtedness, first of all, to my academic advisors Profs. Inoue Shun and Tsutui Kiyotada at the Department of Sociology at Kyoto University in Japan, and Prof. Göran Dahl at the Department of Sociology at Lund University in Sweden. I would also like to express my gratitude to everyone who have contributed with important criticism, advice or suggestions, at seminars or in private discussions: above all Martin Bengtsson, Chikamori Takaaki, Hôgetsu Makoto, Carl-Göran Heidegren, Bo Isenberg, Ishihara Shun, Kurashima Akira, Keiko Kockum, Matsuda Motoji, Murata Yasuko, Nishimura Hiroshi, Nomura Akihiro, Frans Oddner, Okazaki Hiroki, Per-Olof Olofsson, Judith Snodgrass, Song Kichan, Taga Kentarô, and Tano Daisuke. A special thanks is due to Matsuura Yûsuke for our many helpful and delightful "philosophical chit-chats". I also thank the anonymous referees of the journals where my arti

FAQs

What central question does the thesis address?

The thesis investigates how modernity is perceived through the dynamics of shock and how these experiences become naturalized in social life.

Which theoretical concepts are used to explain shock-modernity?

It discusses aura, spleen and the protective shield of consciousness, and the dilemmas posed by shock-modernity, linking these ideas to sociological sense perception and literary contexts.

How does the thesis connect literature to sociological understanding of modernity?

It treats literature as a site where clues for sociological interpretation emerge, using analyses of authors and narrative strategies to explain how modernity takes form and becomes “second nature.”

What issues are examined in the transition from shock-modernity to naturalized modernity?

The thesis develops ideas such as naturalization, non-sociality, and “Hades,” then studies later strategies through themes like loneliness, waiting, boredom, and nostalgia for shock in specific writers.

Aug 21, 2026

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