Feminism, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic (S U N Y Series in Feminist Criticism and Theory)

Feminism, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic assembles thirteen essays on the intersection of Bakhtin's narrative theory, especially his concept of dialogism. The book explores the dimensions of using Bakhtin for a feminist analysis and discerns the connections between feminist dialogics and cultural materialism. The authors offer various views ranging from studies of ecofeminism, gender theories of novelistic discourse, Bakhtin and French feminism, to analyses of contemporary novelists such as Toni Morrison, Nadine Gordimer, and Pat Barker.Drawing on Bakhtin's sociolinguistics, this book provides an introduction to feminist work on Bakhtin and the development of a cultural politics of reading. Challenging questions are raised: What is dialogic feminism? Can Bakhtin's theories advance a feminist politics? How does a feminist dialogics fit into a materialist feminist practice? Can the “dialogic imagination” also describe some of the most radical moments within feminist thinking? The interdisciplinary focus of these responses represents the ongoing dialogue among literary critics, cultural theorists, and feminists.Dale M. Bauer is Associate Professor of English and Women's Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Susan Jaret McKinstry is Associate Professor of English at Carleton College. Feminism, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic Contents Introduction Works Cited 1 The Dilemmas of a Feminine Dialogic If the Novel is a Feminine Genre If Feminine Language is Novelistic A Logical Conclusion A Dialogical Conclusion The Dilemma of a Dialogic Feminism Notes Works Cited 2 Voices from the Margin: Bag Ladies and Others Works Cited 3 Prolegomenon for an Ecofeminist Dialogics I II III IV Notes Works Cited 4 Irigarayan Dialogism: Play and Powerplay Dialogic Thinking and Thinking Dialogics Phallocentric Discourse and the Dialogic Challenge Dialogics and Power Notes Works Cited 5 Critical Imperialism and Renaissance Drama: The Case of The Roaring Girl Notes Works Cited 6 Style and Power Notes Works Cited 7 Radical Writing* Notes Works Cited 8 A Quote of Many Colors: Women and Masquerade in Donald Barthelme's Postmodern Parody Novels Works Cited 9 "Witness [to] the Suffering of Women"1 : Poverty and Sexual Transgression in Meridel Le Sueur's Wo... The Pre-Depression Hobo Woman and the Transient Woman of the 1930s Social and Sexual Transgression in Women on the Breadlines Meridel Le Sueur, Women on the Breadlines, and the Power of the Grotesque Notes Works Cited 10 The Central Nervous System of America: The Writer as/in the Crowd of Joyce Carol Oates's Wonderla... Notes Works Cited 11 Language and Gender in Transit: Feminist Extensions of Bakhtin Notes Works Cited 12 Subject, Voice, and Women in Some Contemporary Black American Women's Writing1 Notes Works Cited 13 Problems of Gordimer's Poetics: Dialogue in Burger's Daughter Here I Stand II: The Curse of Pathos III: Patience on a Monument Notes Works Cited Afterword Works Cited Contributors Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z Dilemmas Of A Feminine Dialogic / Diane Price Herndl -- Voices From The Margin : Bag Ladies And Others / Suzanne Kehde -- Prolegomenon For An Ecofeminist Dialogics / Patrick D. Murphy -- Irigarayan Dialogism : Play And Powerplay / Gail M. Schwab -- Critical Imperialism And Renaissance Drama : The Case Of The Roaring Girl / Deborah Jacobs -- Style And Power / Josephine Donovan -- Radical Writing / Peter Hitchock -- Quote Of Many Colors : Women And Masquerade In Donald Barthelme's Postmodern Parody Novels / Jaye Berman -- Witness [to] The Suffering Of Women : Poverty And Sexual Transgression In Meridel Le Sueur's Women On The Breadlines / Susan Sipple -- Central Nervous System Of America : The Writer As/in The Crowd Of Joyce Carol Oates's Wonderland / Brenda O. Daly -- Language And Gender In Transit : Feminist Extensions Of Bakhtin / Sheryl Stevenson -- Subject, Voice, And Women In Some Contemporary Black American Women's Writing / Mary O' Connor -- Problems Of Gordimer's Poetics : Dialogue In Burger's Daughter / Louise Yelin. Edited By Dale M. Bauer And Susan Jaret Mckinstry. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Feminism, Bakhtin, and the Dialogic assembles thirteen essays on the intersection of Bakhtins narrative theory, especially his concept of dialogism. The book explores the dimensions of using Bakhtin for a feminist analysis and discerns the connections between feminist dialogics and cultural materialism. The authors offer various views ranging from studies of ecofeminism, gender theories of novelistic discourse, Bakhtin and French feminism, to analyses of contemporary novelists such as Toni Morrison, Nadine Gordimer, and Pat Barker. Drawing on Bakhtins sociolinguistics, this book provides an introduction to feminist work on Bakhtin and the development of a cultural politics of reading. Challenging questions are What is dialogic feminism? Can Bakhtins theories advance a feminist politics? How does a feminist dialogics fit into a materialist feminist practice? Can the dialogic imagination also describe some of the most radical moments within feminist thinking? The interdisciplinary focus of these responses represents the ongoing dialogue among literary critics, cultural theorists, and feminists.