Fall 2016 Intern
Literary aficionados know the deal.
You may tear your eyes away from the page, but you never fully exit a beloved
fictional universe’s comforting grip. Caught up in a yearning to live an
alternate reality, you wish you had a confidant to talk giddily with about this
pressing matter.
Well, the opportunity to indulge
one’s devotion with those equally passionate comes around annually for Jane
Austen superfans, also known as “Janeites.”
The annual meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
takes place for three days in either the United States or Canada. Participants
indulge their literary infatuation with crafting activities, a Regency Ball,
lectures on Austen’s work and much
more.
Jane Austen has managed to stay
relevant over 200 years after her death, and pop culture continually reaffirms
her legacy. The 1995 BBC Pride and
Prejudice miniseries featured the popular Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. Other recent
film adaptations featured big names—Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennett in the
2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice and
Kate Beckinsale as Lady Susan in Love and
Friendship in May of 2016.
Austen’s popularity is also strengthened
by exhibits dedicated to her, such as “Will & Jane:
Shakespeare, Austen, and the Cult of Celebrity” at the Folger Shakespeare
Library in Washington, DC. The exhibit featured Austen
paraphernalia such as Austen-silhouette cookie cutters and Austen volumes owned
by celebrities, such as a copy of Mansfield
Park that belonged to actor Stephen Fry.
The accessible themes in Austen’s
literature also account for the author’s continued relevance. “It is a truth
universally acknowledged” that her ability to engage the reader passed the test
of time. Her stories also emphasize self-discovery and feature complex heroines
the reader becomes attached to. Evidence suggests that Austen will continue to
be cherished for years to come despite the fact that her novels take place in a
long-ago era.
All things considered, it’s no
wonder Austen celebrations such as JASNA exist. Janeites will unite once again
in 2017 in Huntington Beach, California, for another group gathering centering on
their beloved author.
Did You Know?
American Idol success story Kelly Clarkson
bought a turquoise and gold ring that belonged
to Jane Austen at a
London auction. This prompted a series of events in which the UK government
imposed a ban on the export of items considered national treasures, and the
Jane Austen House Museum had to raise $250,000 to match Clarkson’s bid and
reclaim the ring.
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