In Course in General Linguistics, Saussure explains that “in language are only differences without positive terms.” (40). Essentially, Saussure means to say that all words in a text possess binary opposites, with no unchanging, inherent connotation in language. ‘Day and night,’ ‘male and female,’ network television and HBO,’ these binary opposites primarily contain meaning when they are in direct correlation with one another. Day is not night, and night is not day. An example Saussure uses for this, which I feel helps to support this idea, is the 8:25 Geneva to Paris train. The train is set to leave at this specific time, but each day it transports different passengers, different drivers on duty, it could be an entirely different train altogether. The train may or may not be a train, but a bus or another mode of transportation. Saussure wraps up this idea by saying that the 8:25 train exhibits its identity for the solitary reason that it arrives after the 7:25 train and before the 9:25 train; the ‘relational’ point in a structure of differentiation. In short, we understand a thing only for what it is not.
In opposition to structuralism and Saussure, post-structuralism goes against the idea that language has only differences without positive terms. Post-structuralism would argue against the idea that a system of differences forms a center of one unified meaning. It would destabilize the center and look for other possible meanings and, perhaps, expose it leading to potential contradiction. The process of reading a text against itself certainly is the technique in post-structuralism.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Response to Dr. Craig
Thank you Chris for an interesting view of Marxism and its current effects on our society. It is fascinating to think that capitalist businesses worldwide permit the distribution of Marxist ideology. The boutique's display of the burgundy Communist Manifesto strategically placed comfortably next to Rodin's Il Penser is quite comical in a sense. Surely, this is sheer irony that a business would display a Marxist piece of literature for all eyes to see. The consumer is drawn to a fervid color such as red and attracted to the book's rebellious reputation that it is actually a brilliant marketing tool. Wear the jeans and you will be a revolutionary; revolutionary in fashionable, presumably sweatshop produced jeans. How novel! In addition to the jeans, the infamous Che Guevara t shirts never fail to send a shiver up my spine. Ironic or not, the shirt completely disregards Guevara's mission to seek total distachment from the ruling class and capitalism entirely. This contradiction is apparent in an array of American corporations. Now it is even more convenient to attain such a trendy shirt. Just go to http://www.thechestore.com/ and wear the face of a true twentieth century 'pop' icon, a 'symbol of rebellion', as described on this online shopping website.
Dr. Craig goes on to mention that these examples are a part of the hegemonic direction run by the American ruling class. Another use of hegemonic power is frequently utilized within the media. The bourgeoisie of the media orchestrate what is to be discussed on the daily news. Those of us who regularly see increasing and decreasing stockmarket cycles on the nightly news are usually wage-earners. When the wages are the up, the stock goes down. At any rate, the media has control over the reporting of these matters, limiting the wage-earners ability to identify their own suppression; the inability to think for themselves and speak for themselves. The rich, ruling class remain affluent and the poor, wage-earning class remain destitute (or close to it). It seems to be a never-ending cycle.
In literature, the author's viewpoint surely takes a front seat in the message he or she is attempting to convey. As Dr. Craig puts it, "The text's authority is assigned to the writer." Those authors who remove themselves from the fetters of dominant ideology are those who perhaps disagree with these dominant ideological messages. However, these authors cannot completely remove themselves from dominant values. All-in-all, Marxism is able to provide the necessary instruments to understand class ideology and how it is omnipresent within our day-to-day life.
Dr. Craig goes on to mention that these examples are a part of the hegemonic direction run by the American ruling class. Another use of hegemonic power is frequently utilized within the media. The bourgeoisie of the media orchestrate what is to be discussed on the daily news. Those of us who regularly see increasing and decreasing stockmarket cycles on the nightly news are usually wage-earners. When the wages are the up, the stock goes down. At any rate, the media has control over the reporting of these matters, limiting the wage-earners ability to identify their own suppression; the inability to think for themselves and speak for themselves. The rich, ruling class remain affluent and the poor, wage-earning class remain destitute (or close to it). It seems to be a never-ending cycle.
In literature, the author's viewpoint surely takes a front seat in the message he or she is attempting to convey. As Dr. Craig puts it, "The text's authority is assigned to the writer." Those authors who remove themselves from the fetters of dominant ideology are those who perhaps disagree with these dominant ideological messages. However, these authors cannot completely remove themselves from dominant values. All-in-all, Marxism is able to provide the necessary instruments to understand class ideology and how it is omnipresent within our day-to-day life.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Marxism vs. Liberal Humanism
Marxism and Liberal Humanism are quite different from one another. Liberal Humanism is a term that is used before theory was even applied to the analysis of literature. It is considered to be nonpolitical, non-Marxist, non-feminist, non-theoretical, etc. A liberal humanist would not dare use any of these labels. Liberal humanism also utilizes the ten tenets: literature goes beyond the time it had been written in and focuses on human nature. Another tenet states that the text of a piece of literature must be seperated from the context. In addition to these, the idea of the human condition remaining constant and unchanging is yet another tenet. Another ideology is that individuality cannot be transformed or altered in any way; the idea that the individual is able to rise above problems dealing with society, politics, environment, and so on.
On the contrary, Marxism is considered to be political and social with regard to interpreting literature. The goal of Marxism is to create a classless society, where everyone works collectively for the community. Capitalism cannot exist in a Marxist society. A Marxist's aim is to create social equality by removing the ideology that the worker is a thing part of the machine, so to speak. Reification is the term used to describe a worker who in some sense is dehumanized and reduced to an object. 'Leninist' Marxist criticism, for example, is a branch of Marxist criticism employed by Lenin himself. He claims that literature must become a sort of tool for the social-democratic party. Literature become a form of propoganda, a way of indoctrination.
The major difference between Liberal Humanism and Marxism is opinion and the lack there of. One can quickly discover a text that is Marxist due to its many opinions. Liberal Humanism, on the other hand, lacks this attitude.
On the contrary, Marxism is considered to be political and social with regard to interpreting literature. The goal of Marxism is to create a classless society, where everyone works collectively for the community. Capitalism cannot exist in a Marxist society. A Marxist's aim is to create social equality by removing the ideology that the worker is a thing part of the machine, so to speak. Reification is the term used to describe a worker who in some sense is dehumanized and reduced to an object. 'Leninist' Marxist criticism, for example, is a branch of Marxist criticism employed by Lenin himself. He claims that literature must become a sort of tool for the social-democratic party. Literature become a form of propoganda, a way of indoctrination.
The major difference between Liberal Humanism and Marxism is opinion and the lack there of. One can quickly discover a text that is Marxist due to its many opinions. Liberal Humanism, on the other hand, lacks this attitude.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I'm not so good at introductions...
Urbane, witty, eccentric, and a bit neurotic. The foundation of me. I’m a person who sees outside the box, and beyond. There’s an abyss deep within the contours of everything, so to speak. I strive to incorporate all types of theory into my daily life. I am an admirer of the aesthetic; a picture, a composition, art is a part of life. Woven, fabricated into the very depths of everything. I am a current Junior attending Emmanuel College with an English Communication major and History minor. I enjoy a good game of scrabble, poetry reading, conspiracy theory, and above all, la musica. Carpe diem is a motto that I live by. Film, drama, literature, and sushi are key for my existence.
Each and everyday, theory is used and incorporated within my daily life (especially feminist theory!). It is the very instrument in which certain opinions are proclaimed, certain ideas ascertained; theory coexists on a day-to-day basis. Thanks to my Short Fiction professor of last semester, I see in the eye of a feminist critic. Whether it be media, advertisement, news, etc. there is always an issue of feminism to discuss. My hope is to inspire others to live each day with an open eye and a light heart, to encourage positivity and free thinking, and to question everything that they come in contact with. As the great Hunter S. Thompson suggests, "buy the ticket, take the ride." That is what I strive to do.
Each and everyday, theory is used and incorporated within my daily life (especially feminist theory!). It is the very instrument in which certain opinions are proclaimed, certain ideas ascertained; theory coexists on a day-to-day basis. Thanks to my Short Fiction professor of last semester, I see in the eye of a feminist critic. Whether it be media, advertisement, news, etc. there is always an issue of feminism to discuss. My hope is to inspire others to live each day with an open eye and a light heart, to encourage positivity and free thinking, and to question everything that they come in contact with. As the great Hunter S. Thompson suggests, "buy the ticket, take the ride." That is what I strive to do.
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