LITERARY RADICALISM IN AMERICA

In: Dissent: a journal devoted to radical ideas and the values of socialism and democracy, Band 2, Heft 5, S. 35-44

Abstract

ACTION MEANS ACTION WITH RESPECT TO TEXTS. ON OCCASIONS WHEN ONE CAN SENSE OTHER INTERESTS AT WORK, THE EFFECT IS VERY CURIOUS. IN A POLEMICAL EXCHANGE, FOR INSTANCE, BETWEEN A MARXIST CRITIC AND A POSTSTRUCTURALIST, ONE MAY KNOW WHAT SORT OF EVENT IS BEING STAGED; BUT, AS ONE LISTENS TO THE PRESENTATIONS, AND COMPARES THE ELOQUENCE ON BOTH SIDES WITH ITS APPARENT SUBJECT, ONE SEES THAT CRITICISM IS NOT THE POINT AT ALL. THEY ARE REALLY ARGUING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE-A SOCIAL QUESTION OF SOME KIND-THOUGH NEITHER KNOWS IT YET. SKEPTICS LIKE TO REPLY THAT THE UNDERGROUND QUALITY OF SUCH ENCOUNTERS IS A SIGN OF A HOPELESS CULTURAL MOMENT.