Description
Book Synopsis: Fredric Jameson takes on the allegorical formWorks do not have meanings, they soak up meanings: a work is a machine for libidinal investments (including the political kind). It is a process that sorts incommensurabilities and registers contradictions (which is not the same as solving them!) The inevitable and welcome conflict of interpretations - a discursive, ideological struggle - therefore needs to be supplemented by an account of this simultaneous processing of multiple meanings, rather than an abandonment to liberal pluralisms and tolerant (or intolerant) relativisms. This is not a book about "method", but it does propose a dialectic capable of holding together in one breath the heterogeneities that reflect our biological individualities, our submersion in collective history and class struggle, and our alienation to a disembodied new world of information and abstraction. Eschewing the arid secularities of philosophy, Walter Benjamin once recommended the alternative of the rich figurality of an older theology; in that spirit we here return to the antiquated Ptolemaic systems of ancient allegory and its multiple levels (a proposal first sketched out in The Political Unconscious); it is tested against the epic complexities of the overtly allegorical works of Dante, Spenser and the Goethe of Faust II, as well as symphonic form in music, and the structure of the novel, postmodern as well as Third-World: about which a notorious essay on National Allegory is here reprinted with a theoretical commentary; and an allegorical history of emotion is meanwhile rehearsed from its contemporary, geopolitical context.
Details
Discover the transformative power of allegory with the Allegory and Ideology Book. In this groundbreaking work by Fredric Jameson, you'll delve into the captivating world of symbolic representation and its profound impact on our cultural and political landscape. Instead of seeking definitive meanings, Jameson argues that works of art are vessels for our desires and beliefs, inviting us to engage in a discourse that reveals the complexities of our society.
Unlike other approaches that promote simplistic interpretations or surrender to relativism, Allegory and Ideology presents a dialectic framework that embraces the diverse meanings inherent in art. It bridges the gaps between our individual experiences, collective history, class struggles, and modern-day alienation. By resurrecting the ancient allegorical systems and marrying them with contemporary analysis, Jameson uncovers connections between literary masterpieces like Dante's Inferno, Spenser's Faerie Queene, and Goethe's Faust II.
But Allegory and Ideology isn't limited to literature. It delves into the world of music, exploring the symphonic form and how it resonates with the human experience. It also unravels the structural intricacies of novels, both postmodern and Third-World, offering new insights into narratives that shape our understanding of reality.
To enrich your reading experience, this book includes Jameson's renowned essay on National Allegory, accompanied by a thought-provoking theoretical commentary. Additionally, it presents an allegorical history of emotion, contextualizing it within the complexities of our contemporary geopolitical climate.
Ignite your intellectual curiosity, deepen your comprehension of art, and gain a fresh perspective on the world around you with Allegory and Ideology. To embark on this captivating journey, get your copy today.
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