Page 11 - Vinkler, Jonatan, Ana Beguš and Marcello Potocco. Eds. 2019. Ideology in the 20th Century: Studies of literary and social discourses and practices. Koper: University of Primorska Press
P. 11
Introduction: The Crossroads of Literature and Social Praxis 11
This brings us to the crucial problem as regards ideology. If the sub-
ject is given the autonomy of response, discourse must be laden with a
discursive authority to interpellate the subject. Moreover, if the subject
is given the autonomy, a relation must exist not merely between the sub-
ject and discourse, but also between discourse and ideology. Diane Mac-
donell defines discourses as specific ranges of the use of language that
“differ with the kinds of institutions and social practices in which they
take shape, and with the positions of those who speak and whom they
address” (Macdonell 1986, 3). In her view, a discourse is invested with
meaning by ideological positions in which it takes shape, and her main
argument is that “meanings are to be found only in the concrete forms
of differing social and institutional practices” (Macdonell 1986, 3,110). It
could be claimed that ideologies are inscribed into discourse by the inter-
vention of power. As Terry Eagleton puts it:
ideology marks the point at which language is bent out … by the power in-
terests which impinge upon it … so that ideology becomes a set of effects in-
ternal to particular discourses themselves (Eagleton 1991, 129).
In this introduction we have chosen to follow one of the possible lines
of research on ideology, wishing to bring the discourse on the concept
of ideology back to where it started. This seems necessary, as the present
book does not focus on the variety of theoretical approaches to the prob-
lem of ideology. While this study does not completely ignore theoreti-
cal observations, it does seem that in the past five decades the research
on these issues, despite being very fruitful and diverse, has also become
somewhat exhausted. This is why we have focused on case studies reveal-
ing mechanisms of literary and social representations both in a more gen-
eral context (e.g. cases of national ideology) as well as within specific so-
cial contexts. The authors of particular chapters have shed light on the
period after World War 2 in the countries of both the Eastern and West-
ern Bloc, but with a special focus on the countries that were for a long
time under the communist rule. This should not come as a surprise, con-
sidering that Slovenia was one of these countries.
Still, the book starts out with discussing theoretical concepts. Ana
Beguš thus analyses the notions of genre, technology and remediation.
The substantial nature of technology as an extension and a cultural inter-
face creates new cultural environments. In this process, it transforms the
existing genres and generates new ones. The technological environment
of the text can thus be understood as a particular level between the textu-
al and the social context which can be materially analysed. The tradition-
This brings us to the crucial problem as regards ideology. If the sub-
ject is given the autonomy of response, discourse must be laden with a
discursive authority to interpellate the subject. Moreover, if the subject
is given the autonomy, a relation must exist not merely between the sub-
ject and discourse, but also between discourse and ideology. Diane Mac-
donell defines discourses as specific ranges of the use of language that
“differ with the kinds of institutions and social practices in which they
take shape, and with the positions of those who speak and whom they
address” (Macdonell 1986, 3). In her view, a discourse is invested with
meaning by ideological positions in which it takes shape, and her main
argument is that “meanings are to be found only in the concrete forms
of differing social and institutional practices” (Macdonell 1986, 3,110). It
could be claimed that ideologies are inscribed into discourse by the inter-
vention of power. As Terry Eagleton puts it:
ideology marks the point at which language is bent out … by the power in-
terests which impinge upon it … so that ideology becomes a set of effects in-
ternal to particular discourses themselves (Eagleton 1991, 129).
In this introduction we have chosen to follow one of the possible lines
of research on ideology, wishing to bring the discourse on the concept
of ideology back to where it started. This seems necessary, as the present
book does not focus on the variety of theoretical approaches to the prob-
lem of ideology. While this study does not completely ignore theoreti-
cal observations, it does seem that in the past five decades the research
on these issues, despite being very fruitful and diverse, has also become
somewhat exhausted. This is why we have focused on case studies reveal-
ing mechanisms of literary and social representations both in a more gen-
eral context (e.g. cases of national ideology) as well as within specific so-
cial contexts. The authors of particular chapters have shed light on the
period after World War 2 in the countries of both the Eastern and West-
ern Bloc, but with a special focus on the countries that were for a long
time under the communist rule. This should not come as a surprise, con-
sidering that Slovenia was one of these countries.
Still, the book starts out with discussing theoretical concepts. Ana
Beguš thus analyses the notions of genre, technology and remediation.
The substantial nature of technology as an extension and a cultural inter-
face creates new cultural environments. In this process, it transforms the
existing genres and generates new ones. The technological environment
of the text can thus be understood as a particular level between the textu-
al and the social context which can be materially analysed. The tradition-
