Literary Theory and Methodology Session Five: Marxist Criticism

Agenda Jakobson’s model of communication Jakobson’s model of communication Test Test Marxist Criticism: Some Key Concepts Marxist Criticism: Some Key Concepts Examples Examples

Jakobson’s Six Factors of Verbal Communication context Addressermessageaddressee contact code

Jakobson’s Six Functions of Verbal Communication Referential Emotivepoeticconative phaticmetalingual

Mimetic criticism The literary work of art is a mirror. The literary work of art is a mirror. –It imitates, or reflects, or represents reality, or life, or the world. Prescribes the kinds of things a literary work ought to mirror. Prescribes the kinds of things a literary work ought to mirror.

Marxist criticism 1. What is being / ought to be reflected? 2. The nature of reflection 3. Base and superstructure 4. Class struggle 5. History as a dialectic process 6. Ideology 7. Hegemony

1. What is being / ought to be reflected? Realism vs. Modernism Realism vs. Modernism Society vs. The individual Society vs. The individual

2. The nature of reflection How is reality being reflected? How is reality being reflected? Is literature passive or active? Is literature passive or active?

3. Base and superstructure Base: socio-economic relations between classes Base: socio-economic relations between classes Superstructure: ideology, politics, religion, philosophy, literature (?) Superstructure: ideology, politics, religion, philosophy, literature (?)

4. Class struggle Capitalists vs. workers Capitalists vs. workers The means of production are privatized while the process of production is socialized The means of production are privatized while the process of production is socialized

5. History as a dialectic process Dialectics and dialectical materialism Dialectics and dialectical materialism Dynamic relationships of interconnectedness between the classes Dynamic relationships of interconnectedness between the classes The internal tensions and contradictions between and among the classes The internal tensions and contradictions between and among the classes

6. Ideology = superstructure = superstructure A set of ideas, norms, and values that form a distortion of reality (opposed to science) A set of ideas, norms, and values that form a distortion of reality (opposed to science) False consciousness; hidden and illusory assumptions that naturalise our ways of making sense of and dealing with the world False consciousness; hidden and illusory assumptions that naturalise our ways of making sense of and dealing with the world

Terry Eagleton, Ideology: An Introduction The general material process of production of ideas, beliefs and values in social life The general material process of production of ideas, beliefs and values in social life Ideas and beliefs (whether true or false) which symbolize the conditions and life-experiences of a specific, socially significant group or class Ideas and beliefs (whether true or false) which symbolize the conditions and life-experiences of a specific, socially significant group or class The promotion and legitimation of the interests of such social groups in the face of opposing interests The promotion and legitimation of the interests of such social groups in the face of opposing interests Such promotion and legitimation when carried out by a dominant social power Such promotion and legitimation when carried out by a dominant social power Ideas and beliefs which help to legitimatethe interests of a ruling group or class specifically by distortion and dissimulation Ideas and beliefs which help to legitimatethe interests of a ruling group or class specifically by distortion and dissimulation Similar false and deceptive beliefs which arise not from the interests of a dominant class but from the structure of society as a whole Similar false and deceptive beliefs which arise not from the interests of a dominant class but from the structure of society as a whole

7. Hegemony The way a (small) class of people non- violently maintains power over another (larger) class The way a (small) class of people non- violently maintains power over another (larger) class

An Example: Graham Greene, ”I Spy”