“free” by Lea Ypi as “creative Nonfiction” Read in Albanian and the End of the Postmodern Illusion of Freedom

Abstract Book of the 9th World Conference on Research in Social Sciences

Year: 2025

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“free” by Lea Ypi as “creative Nonfiction” Read in Albanian and the End of the Postmodern Illusion of Freedom

Ermir Xhindi

ABSTRACT:

This work investigates the implications of reading following the Albanian publication of Lea Ypi’s book, “Free: Coming of Age at the End of History.” Prior to this, the book achieved remarkable success in over 30 languages, receiving recognition, attention, and appreciation from international reviewers and the public, particularly regarding the philosophical theses articulated within the text and the historical-cultural context of an exotic interpretation of the fable originated from the former “Iron Curtain.” The book was integral to a global cultural circulation system; nonetheless, its systemic affiliation was ambiguous, and any reading experience appeared insufficient for its explication. The Albanian publishing of “FREE” established the framework for uncovering its fundamental systemic, stylistic, and semiotic meanings, thereby augmenting the previously positivist perspective of foreign critique. Our analysis relies on the interpretation of this book in Albanian and the description and analysis of the reading process by a critical “avatar” named “Possible Reader,” an archetype that represents the normative reading proficiency in current Albanian fiction. This critical instrument integrates Umberto Eco’s structuralist concept of reader interaction with Stanley Fish’s phenomenological model. Therefore, we have established the structural pragmatics and the associated “meaning” of the text – its definitive inclusion within the Albanian literary system and an instance of postmodernity as an anti-structuralist illusion on “freedom”.

Keywords: Albanian Literature, Creative Nonfiction, End of History, Lea Ypi, Possible Reader.