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Viktor Shklovsky and Ostranenie of Art

Form, System and Structure
• The Russian Formalists and the New Critics applied themselves to linguistics in order to discover the specific nature of literary language.
• Russian theorists were deeply influenced by linguistics.
• Both Russian Formalism and New Criticism ask the question:
o What is distinctive about the way literature uses language ?
• They both regard literature as special use of language which is able to convey experiences in a fresh or novel way.
• Shklovsky argues that the devices of literature deliberately roughen the surface of language in order to gain the readers’ attention and to defamiliarize the perception which is against habitual or automatisation.
• The Russian Formalists, especially Shklovsky were not really interested in experience itself. Attention is focused not upon the extra-literary dimension of ‘defamiliarized’ perception but upon the literary process itself.
• Somewhat purely concerned with the matters of technique rather than social command.
• The Formalists believed that a true study of literature concentrates on the formal devices which are used to produce the effects of defamiliarization.
• It means to lay bare the devices themselves.
• Formalists treat the literary text as an autonomous or autotelic object.
 
VIKTOR SHKLOVSKY
Art as Technique (1917)
• Habitualization devours one’s works, clothes, furniture, one’s wife, and the fear of war.
• Art exists to make one recover the sensation of life.
• It exists to make one feel things, to make the stone stony.
• The purpose of art is to impart the sensation of things as they are perceived not as they are known.
• The technique of art is to make objects ‘unfamiliar’ to make forms difficult, to increase the difficulty and length of perception because the process of perception is an aesthetic end itself and must be prolonged.
• Art is a way of experiencing the artfulness of an object; the object is not so much important.
• Art removes objects from the automatism of perception in several ways.
• Tolstoy makes the familiar seem strange by not naming the familiar object. He describes an object as if he were seeing it for the first time, an event as if it were happening for the first time.
• He avoids accepted names of its parts that makes the content of the story seem unfamiliar.
o Modernists and postmodernists writing type
o Breaking conventions in art writing
o Suppose any story from animal’s point of view
• The author’s purpose is to create the vision which results from the de-automatized perception.
• A work is created ‘artistically’ so that its perception is impeded and the greatest possible effect is produced through the slowness of the perception.
• According to Aristotle, poetic language must appear strange and wonderful; and in fact, it is often actually foreign.

Meaning V/S Significance...Why anarchism is not enteratined by Hirsch ?

The Aims of Interpretation (1976)
Hirsch tries to protect the author
He argues that meaning does not change only its significance.
He refutes the idea that meaning does not change only its significance.
But for Heidegger reading in the present we can not escape the preconception of our culture.
Another philosopher Gadamer focuses not upon the text, the author or literary influences but upon the reception of the text from the time of its composition to the present.
As Hirsch for another phenomenological critic Husserl, the meaning of literary text is bound up with the writer’s mental object; it consists of whatever he or she had in mind when the work was composed. Meaning is thus an intentional object.
Hirsch brings this idea of phenomenology and distinguishes between meaning and significance.
Meaning Significance
Fixed Dynamic
Identical with author’s intention Historically conditioned interpretation of given work
A work’s meaning is author’s Contextual and modern meaning
Should not be appropriated by the reader, if done amounts to theft Autobiographical impulses ignored and looks at present impulses
Self-identical/original Anachronistic and modern meaning
Against reader’s interpretation Assumed
Legitimate interpretation Illegitimate interpretation
Intended meaning Affective meaning


• There is no viable distinction between ‘literature’ and their classification of written speech
• The ethics of language hold good in all uses of language, oral and written in poetry as well as in philosophy
• All are ethically governed by author’s intention.
• To treat an author’s words merely as grist for one’s own mill is ethically analogous to using another man for one’s own purpose.
• According to Hirsch, this is ruthlessness of interpretation
• Professional practice of interpretation means avoiding our intention.
• Such anarchy of reader’s judgement is not good.
• The modern anarchy of every man for himself in matters of interpretation sounds like the ultimate victory of the Protestant Spirit.
• Such anarchy is direct consequence of transgressing the fundamental ethical norms of speech and its interpretation.

Genius: Nature VS Art

Genius : Nature V/S Art
Classical Critics were only concerned with technical knowledge in art and literature.
Plato calls poets imitators and divine frenzy.
Sublimity: ideas of natural ability-naturally gifted beyond mere technical skill.
 By Longinus
 Touched by Roman and Jewish thoughts
 Also calls hypsos
 Based on writer’s mental characteristics
 Greatness of soul (megalopsychia)
 Power of conceiving impressive thoughts
 Makes strong emotional impact on the reader
 Irrestible effect on readers
#Romantics  transmitted to modern thought the notion of ‘originality’
 Which was previously taken for granted or accepted as a self-evident in all the arts.
 New styles and genres are created by some individual
 Romantics played up the uniqueness and individuality of genius.
# Longinus distinguishes between rhetoric and genuine poetic power
 Rhetoric :- the command of verbal skill; skills of art
 Genuine:- not restrained by rules and regulations
 “Can attain a grace beyond reach of art” Pope
 True genius can express sublime ideas which are associated with large scenes and aspects of nature not small and intimate realities. (Opposite to Wordsworth)
 Longinus preserves certain literary devices to achieve the grand effect of sublimty
 Grand ideas-grand words
 “Let there be light”- grand idea
 Brave Gorkhalis: Grand ideas
 Imitation is a transplantation of the original to foreign soil
 Original is a new plant which grows naturally
 Coleridge’s fancy is imitation because it is derived from pre-existing materials
# Hazlitt argues that one cannot define or intellectually grasp the nature of the production of genius.
 Sulblime writers point us what is before our eyes and under our feet.
# Longinus “On Sublime” (3rd C)
 True sublime elevates us with a sense of proud possession
 Fills us with joyful pride
 As if we had ourselves produced the very thing we heard
 If any idea doesnot affect us then it’s not true sublime
 Outlast the moment of utterance
 Gives abundant food for thought
 Its impossible to resist its effect
 Pleases all people at all time
 All agree together in holding one and the same view about the same writing
 Calls genius as “demigods”( half-gods)
 Great and divine things develop
 Develops unconquerable passion into our hearts
 Extraordinary, great and beautiful
 Don’t write about what is useful and necessary
 Write about unusual which wins our wonder
 Sublimity lifts them near the mighty mind of gods

Emotive Use of Language in D.H. Lawrwnce's Spring Funeral

Emotive Use of Language in D.H. Lawrence’s Spring Funeral

“The Spring Funeral” is an excerpt taken from” The White Peacock”, the first novel of D.H Lawrence. The novel was written in 1906 but finally published in 1911 after three revisions. It is narrated in the first person by a character named Cyril Beardsall. The spring funeral takes place in the chapter 2 “The shadow in spring”. This particular section, is a pastoral elegy, that raises the issues propounded in Emotive Theory by I.A. Richards, such as valorization of nature, synasthesia, human sensibility and organicity.
In the description of spring funeral, the writer like a painter, depicts the early spring season with the vibration of the non-human world, the birds like larks, thrush, lapwings and the black-legged lamb. All the animals seem to be intoxicated by the magnificent morning and feel the thrill. The natural scenes of hazels, sallow trees and pale wind-flowers portray the gloom. In Emotive theory by I.A. Richards, he gives emphasis on the nature and its effects in the life of people. I.A. Richards believes that industrialization and modernity brings dehumanization, but nature breeds emotions in human beings.
When reading about the spring funeral, the reader is immersed in nature in a way that is sometimes tragic, sometimes ecstatic. This is one of the great charms of the excerpt from the book. Moments of life, of supreme harmony in spring time gives rise to ecstasy, and at the same time there’s a tragic side to it, as the funeral procession is going on. The Annable the game keeper has just died, and the narrator is seeing the spectrum of how nature is participating in the procession and how aloof somethings are. In the light of both happiness and sadness, we find ‘synasthesia’ and IA Richards view that discordant feelings and emotions can be harmonized only in Art and Literature. For him, Art and Literature also is a therapeutic tool.
The lapwings, unlike other birds in the springtime, they lament and take part in the wailing and crying of the people in procession. They seem to be engaged at an emotional level to the surrounding. All the other birds and the lamb retreat into silence and they are also aware of the human feelings. The narrator and the people carrying the white coffin also show the respect and condolence towards the dead. The nature’s participation in joyous or sad moments is known as pathetic fallacy. In regards to I.A. Richards, the human sensibility, or an acute perception of or responsiveness toward something, such as the emotions of another is the most important aspect.
There’s an inter-relatedness, coherence, and connection between the natural objects, the animals and the human beings in the spring funeral. The picture gives us the clue that all these entities can’t be separated. The eco-system or the “organicity” of nature and humans is inseparable. Lawrence’s description of the springtime, and the events glorifies the bio-centric view against the existing notion of anthropocentrism. I.A. Richards says that the Art and Literature has the organization of fullness of life and it creates the impulses in the readers.
Thus, the spring funeral, is a remarkable handling of the language by Lawrence, who shows us the picture of life and death, and the way it keeps going on in a cycle. The spring funeral is a great excerpt to see through the emotive theory given by I.A. Richards. It connects with the idea of the theorist showing that the emotional consciousness, and emotional response is created in the minds of the reader by a work of Art and Literature.

Grotesque use of Language in Richard Mayne's short story F**d

Asmita Ojha ‘15’

The Theory of Literary Criticism, Eng. 553

Instructor: Markas Dangaura

25^th April, 2018

Grotesque use of Language in Richard Mayne's short story F**d

            This paper seeks to examine the ambivalent use of language in Mayne's short story food. The writer was accused of using immoral words in his story. Actually, the writer has used language very ambiguously to mean something else. Hence, how he arouses the appetite of chicken meat in the readers through the usage of sexual imageries becomes a researchable issue.

            J.L. Austin in his book How to Do Things with Words argues about the performative and ambiguous use of language. Austin rejects the old logical view of language as description of state of affairs in the world. He argues, "While some statements may be constative (referential), many others are performative" (95). Some words actually perform the actions they describe. Here, in this story, the judge performs the act of opening the court session by saying , "Well, ladies and gentleman of the jury, we have all heard a great deal this afternoon about purity and compassion" (6). The judge performs along with his utterance. As he says ladies and gentlemen he opens the court listening.

            Raman Selden in "Language and Representation" argues, "A speech act must have a context for it to have a meaning" (95). In other words we decide on meaning once we have decided whether or not a particular locution is an appropriate speech act within particular conventional situation. "Well ladies and gentlemen of the jury" would not possess a performative function in an informal gathering such as a party, unless it were construed as a joke. Selden argues, "Wittgenstein proposes that whole language system is made by the specific context in which the language usage occurs" (95). Austin's theory of speech acts is also related to Wittgenstein's view of language.

            Austin rejects the Aristotelian idea that "The mind should passively reflect things and these images of things should be reflected without distortion in a clear language" (97). In Mayne's story, the clear representation of eating a big chicken tandoori in every Sunday by a couple is reflected in a much distorted way. The small excerpt from the writer's book seems the elaboration of sexual intercourse at first hand. He narrates, "Her hungry eyes met his as, ever so slowly, and she turned to reveal the warm, full curves of her breast and leg. He watched, fascinated as the covering fell away from the soft white skin. Eagerly, he bent forward" (7). The picture of chicken tandoori is presented as a lady seducing a male before sex.

            Austin's grotesque uses of language are the distortions of true human nature. Interestingly his ambiguous story makes us please at the end. It satirizes the follies and vices of the human mind as they are expressed in language. Languages are full of such distorted discourse.

            Austin argues about the three features of human speech. First one is locutionary, second illocutionary and the third is perlocutionary act. As argued by Austin locutionary act means "Uttering a certain sentence within a certain sense and reference" (120). Here, the uttering act of judge about the verdict of the court regarding the book is locutionary act. The story narrates, "For what we have to consider and consider very carefully before we give out verdict" (7). The uttering of verdict is with a sense that before something about anything, we have to be very careful and have enough knowledge. Here, the judge wants readers understand that the book is not about anything immoral.

            Next, Austin argues about the illocutionary act of speech which is performative function of speech. He argues, "To perform an illocutionary act is to determine in what way we are using the locution" (120). Either we are asking or answering a question, or performance of an act in saying something. The story narrates, "We have to consider this book not as remote academic professors, not as pedants but as people, as men and women of the world" (7). The judge appeals people to criticize the book like a common man. Finding certain ideology, psychology and criticism in a text is a duty of professors and teachers but common man should read the text as an art. If we apply theory to any text, the beauty of that text seems quite unfamiliar to us. Thus, here the illocutionary act of the judge can be said as indirect order and appeal.

            Third and the final function of speech is perlocutionary act of speech. Austin argues, "Saying something will often, or even normally produce certain consequential effects upon the feelings thoughts of the audience" (121). He further argues that it may be done with the design, intention or purpose. The judge in the story wants people confirm the non-vulnerability of the text. He thus brings the excerpt from the accused book to prove that book is about arousing temptation and inflame the appetites. The ending of that excerpt states, "Estella surrendered to the moment's sudden succulence, the firm warm flesh that brought the secret juices welling from within her. All too soon they were replete, exhausted. On Sunday's, they always bought too big a chicken" (8). This small excerpt from the book confirms that the book is not about immorality and vulgarity. Rather, the book is a strong procedure to arouse the deep hunger making our mouth juicy for the chicken tandoori.

             Austin claims, "The occasion of an utterance matters seriously and that the words used are to some extent to be explained by the context in which they are designed" (121). The judge saying "And let me remind you ladies and gentleman" (7) is actually contextual because he is addressing all the jury and all the public listening the court session. The judge is persuading them against the blasphemy of the book arguing, "The world is not an ivory tower where there are no problems, no dangers, no human weakness. The world is full of temptations; temptations of the flesh" (7). He disconfirms the negative reaction of the book proposing that since human beings are not out of the play of problems, of course there arise problems. And he develops the context to present the paragraph before them by saying the world is full of temptations, seduction, and attractiveness. Either human flesh or chicken flesh, humans are tempting creatures.

            Consequently, Austin argues about the "Poetical use of language and parasitic use of language" (121) which he means that language can be used very poetically to refer certain action. In the story, the accused writer has used the language in very poetic way to arouse human hunger. Similarly, his language is parasitic because it is dependence upon the sexual connotations and imagery. The words "Her breast and leg , soft white skin, warm flesh, secret juices" (7-8). All these words imply sexual imageries.

            Thus, we can affirm the performative use of language which is more powerful and thrilling. The context is necessary to know the text is explicated by Mayne as argued by Austin.