The linguoconcept of PRIVACY in J. Franzen’s essay “The Imperial Bedroom” (1998)

The aim of the research is to propose an interpretation of the linguoconcept PRIVACY through the prism of the works by the American writer J. Franzen, in development of previously expressed interpretations. J. Franzen’s essay “The Imperial Bedroom” (1998) was chosen as the research material. The paper analyzes the changes in the life of the American society against the backdrop of the increasing role of state and corporate technological control in different spheres of an individual’s life; it identifies the link between the thematic originality of J. Franzen’s essay collection “How to Be Alone” and social processes in the USA at the end of the last century; and reveals the originality of the linguoconcept PRIVACY in J. Franzen’s system of values based on the material of the essay “The Imperial Bedroom”. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the presentation of the linguoconcept PRIVACY as interpreted by J. Franzen through the opposition of the states of public space – visibility / PRIVACY – invisibility. As a result, the paper shows that the linguoconcept PRIVACY, previously associated with the state of invisibility, in J. Franzen’s interpretation has incorporated the public space, depriving the individual of the opportunity to be visible in the public space and exposing his vulnerability in private life. The results obtained are extremely important for modern American studies as they open up opportunities for further research on the linguoconcept PRIVACY taking into account current socio-political issues.