On the Edge of the Cliff: History, Language and Practices (Parallax: Re-visions of Culture and Society)

The importance of history has been powerfully reaffirmed in recent years by the appearance of major new authors, pathbreaking works, and fresh interpretations of historical events, trends, and methods. Responding to these developments, Roger Chartier engages several of the most influential writers of cultural history whose works have spread far beyond academic audiences to become part of contemporary cultural argument. Challenging the assertion that history is no more than a "fiction-making operation" Chartier examines the relationships between history and fiction and proposes new foundations for establishing history as a specific kind of knowledge. Michel de Certeau's description of Michel Foucault's writings as "on the edge of the cliff," provides Chartier with an image he finds appropriate not only for Foucault but for many other recent historians—including de Certeau. Exploring the relationships between discursive practices and nondiscursive practices, Chartier examines the "heterology" of de Certeau pursues the "chimera of origin" and the causes of the French Revolution in Foucault's work; and raises four pertinent questions for the metahistory of Hayden White. He follows the work of Louis Marin into the distinctions between interpreting a painting and interpreting a text. And a trio of essays treats the historical sociology of Norbert Elias and his work on power and civility. Throughout, Chartier keeps his focus on historians who have stressed the relations between the products of discourse and social practices. The Johns Hopkins University Press 00000001.tif.3.pdf......Page 1 00000004.tif.3.pdf......Page 4 00000007.tif.3.pdf......Page 7 00000010.tif.3.pdf......Page 10 00000013.tif.3.pdf......Page 13 00000016.tif.3.pdf......Page 16 00000019.tif.3.pdf......Page 19 00000022.tif.3.pdf......Page 22 00000025.tif.3.pdf......Page 25 00000028.tif.3.pdf......Page 28 00000031.tif.3.pdf......Page 31 00000034.tif.3.pdf......Page 34 00000037.tif.3.pdf......Page 37 00000040.tif.3.pdf......Page 40 00000043.tif.3.pdf......Page 43 00000046.tif.3.pdf......Page 46 00000049.tif.3.pdf......Page 49 00000052.tif.3.pdf......Page 52 00000055.tif.3.pdf......Page 55 00000058.tif.3.pdf......Page 58 00000061.tif.3.pdf......Page 61 00000064.tif.3.pdf......Page 64 00000067.tif.3.pdf......Page 67 00000070.tif.3.pdf......Page 70 00000073.tif.3.pdf......Page 73 00000076.tif.3.pdf......Page 76 00000079.tif.3.pdf......Page 79 00000082.tif.3.pdf......Page 82 00000085.tif.3.pdf......Page 85 00000088.tif.3.pdf......Page 88 00000091.tif.3.pdf......Page 91 00000094.tif.3.pdf......Page 94 00000097.tif.3.pdf......Page 97 00000100.tif.3.pdf......Page 100 00000103.tif.3.pdf......Page 103 00000106.tif.3.pdf......Page 106 00000109.tif.3.pdf......Page 109 00000112.tif.3.pdf......Page 112 00000115.tif.3.pdf......Page 115 00000118.tif.3.pdf......Page 118 00000121.tif.3.pdf......Page 121 00000124.tif.3.pdf......Page 124 00000127.tif.3.pdf......Page 127 00000130.tif.3.pdf......Page 130 00000133.tif.3.pdf......Page 133 00000136.tif.3.pdf......Page 136 00000139.tif.3.pdf......Page 139 00000142.tif.3.pdf......Page 142 00000145.tif.3.pdf......Page 145 00000148.tif.3.pdf......Page 148 00000151.tif.3.pdf......Page 151 00000154.tif.3.pdf......Page 154 00000157.tif.3.pdf......Page 157 00000160.tif.3.pdf......Page 160 00000163.tif.3.pdf......Page 163 00000166.tif.3.pdf......Page 166 00000169.tif.3.pdf......Page 169 00000172.tif.3.pdf......Page 172 00000175.tif.3.pdf......Page 175 00000178.tif.3.pdf......Page 178 00000181.tif.3.pdf......Page 181 00000184.tif.3.pdf......Page 184 00000187.tif.3.pdf......Page 187 00000190.tif.3.pdf......Page 190 00000193.tif.3.pdf......Page 193 00000196.tif.3.pdf......Page 196 00000199.tif.2.pdf......Page 199 A collection of 11 essays that originally appeared between 1986 and 1994, addressing the study of the forms, uses, and effects of print culture in the societies of the modern age, from the 16th century to the 18th, particularly ancien regime France. Examines the work of theorists including Michel Foucault, Michel de Certeau, and Norbert Elias. Subjects include the origins of the French Revolution, the powers and limitations of representation, and self-consciousness and the social bond. Paper edition (unseen), $15.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR History between narrative and knowledge Four questions for Hayden White Michel de Certeau : history, or knowledge of the other The chimera of the origin : archaeology of knowledge, cultural history, and the French Revolution Discourses and practices : on the origins of the French Revolution Texts, forms, and interpretations The powers and limits of representation Self-consciousness and the social bond The double bind and detachment Sports, or the controlled decontrolling of emotions Epilogue : friendship with history : Philippe Ariès. "On the edge of the cliff": this image, which Michel de Certeau used to describe the work of Michel Foucault, seems to me appropriate for all intellectual approaches having at their heart relations between the products of discourse and social practices.