Marxist literary theory
The Marxist literary theory is one of the context-centered literary theories . The collective term summarizes those literary theories which refer to the theory of Marxism or view literature from the standpoint of the Marxist worldview . The various Marxist literary criticisms therefore attempt to work out the role that literature , and art in general, play in society.
Karl Marx's idea of literature
Karl Marx himself never developed a literary theory, but he was convinced of the relative autonomy of art and thus also of literature. He had a special penchant for Greek art, which for him was of lasting beauty.
Major Marxist literary theories
The most important Marxist literary theories include those of Georg Lukács and Terry Eagleton . Then there is that of the English studies professor Christian Enzensberger (younger brother of Hans Magnus Enzensberger). In addition, there are a variety of other Marxist approaches to literary theory, for example in the ideas and theories of the Frankfurt School , the writings of Alexander Voronsky or Leon Trotsky .
Critical Theory of Reflection
The critical theory of reflection can be traced back to the Hungarian philosopher and literary scholar Georg Lukács . His theory deals with how literature is embedded in the social, economic and historical context of its time. One of the central questions is thus whether and to what extent the ideals and values of a society influence literature. Equally important is the question of how strongly literature influences society. Literature is therefore seen as a kind of mirror that reflects society. In its reflective function, literature clarifies the class struggle of different social groups; it thus represents the superstructure of a given base (namely society) and constantly reflects and changes it. This changed society is now reflected in the literature, which leads to a dialectical process of self-renewal and self-improvement. The dialectical process comes to an end when the perfect society has arisen. In the case of Marxism , the perfect society would be a classless form of society.
Critical to ideology literary theory
The ideology-critical literary theory (Critique of Ideology) goes to Terry Eagleton back of a bedeutendster Marxist literary critic Britain applies. Taking up approaches by French theorists such as Louis Althusser and Roland Barthes , his approach tries to fathom how literature reveals social contradictions between economic groups. According to his thinking, society is not reflected by literature; rather, literature tries to create the effect of reality through ideological influence. On this point his theory is contrary to that of Lukács: literature is not a mirror, but the helmsman of society. Literature can thus steer societies in certain directions.
Literature as compensation
Christian Enzensberger developed a Marxist literary theory in his book "Literature and Interest" (1977/81). His core thesis, which is just as provocative as it is obvious, states: literature has a compensatory function with regard to the shortcomings of a society with a lack of meaning. The relationship between literature and social reality is not that of illustration, but, on the contrary, that of calming down the meaning, satisfying needs, and compensating. Enzensberger's theory stands in the two key points (reflection, effect) contrary to Lukacs and Eagleton. The connection between literature and society is based on a simple fact: Social deficiencies lead to an experience of lack of meaning (lack of meaning). This lack of meaning is offset by an existential, ineradicable human need for meaning. Literature satisfies this need for meaning in a compensatory manner by entering and filling the meaning gap. From this conception of "literature as compensation" there are two consequences. Literature is always a "fictitious construction of reality" and in this sense not a pure representation of reality. Literature has no power to change society, but has the exact opposite effect: it absorbs activity and thus contributes to the stabilization of what already exists.
literature
- Klaus-Michael Bogdal, Burkhardt Lindner, Gerhard Plumpe (Hrsg.): Working field materialistic literary theory. Contributions to their subject determination, Frankfurt / M .: Athenäum Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag 1975.
- John A. Cuddon: A Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, 4th ed. Oxford: Blackwell 1998 (first published in 1977)
- Terry Eagleton: Marxism and Literary Criticism, London: Methuen 1976
- Fritz J. Raddatz : Revolt and Melancholy. Essays on literary theory, Hamburg: Albrecht Knaus 1979 (new edition Frankfurt / M .: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag 1982; new edition Reinbek: Rowohlt 1990)
- Michael Ryan: Literary Theory: A Practical Introduction, Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell 1999
- Heinz Schlaffer (Ed.): Expansion of materialistic literary theory by defining its limits (literary studies and social sciences; 4), Stuttgart: Metzler 1974