Reference:
Review Excerpts 'Next to Foucault's poststructuralist theory of history, predicated on the
"death of the subject," Bloom's odd version of the "great man theory," based on
the Satanic strength and vitality of the subjected poet, remains within the ancient
humanist tradition-- but near its end' (142-3).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | history | poststructuralist |
theory |
'Foucault typically emphasizes accidents, not universal rules; surfaces, not
depths; multiplicities, not unities; flaws, not foundations; and differences, not
identities. Nevertheless, these distinctions become exceedingly hard to maintain
when one is lost in the intricacies of a Foucault text. The impression prevails that
he seeks depths, rules, and foundations. Ultimately, Foucault produces forms of
order as disorder-- not instances of disorder as order. But the considerable time
spent in articulating "forms of order" creates an enduring impression of
structuralism-- even though all orders undergo final subversion. Foucault, as we
shall see, appears a most structuralist poststructuralist in his constructions of
history' (143-4).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | history | poststructuralist |
text |
universal |
'When it studies discourse, archeology does not seek a hidden or overt
"intention," "will," or "meaning" in or behind the discourse ... Its object of analysis
is not the author, the linguistic code, the reader, or the individual text. but the
limited set of texts constituting the regulated discourse of a discipline'
(151).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | analysis | author |
code |
discipline |
discourse |
intention |
meaning |
reader |
text |
'Deploying discontinuity as a methodological wedge, archaeology shows
one aspect of its negative operation....In short, it begets excessive fragmentation
in both the object and method of analysis....Archaeology regards discontinuity as
a positive element rather than some external threat or failure requiring reduction
or erasure. Thus archaeology actively courts discontinuity ... As archaeologist,
Foucault attempts to restore to the stable ground of Western culture its rifts,
instabilities, and flaws' (152).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | analysis | aspect |
culture |
ground |
method |
reduction |
western |
'Foucault demonstrates that archival discourse expands, divides, and
deploys knowledge and power in the interest of social control' (154).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | discourse | knowledge |
power |
'What is knowledge? A disguise rather than a foundation for truth.
Dangerous and destructive, the will-to-knowledge suppresses freedom and
produces control' (155).
Domains: Under construction |
Key Terms: | knowledge | truth |
will-to-knowledge |
'To the extent that the ordinary term "context" suggests a position outside
textuality, it is misleading' (157).
Domains: Under construction |
Last Modified:
July-12-96 10:7:7
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