Clase: "Bartleby o la fórmula" de Gilles Deleuze (parte 1 de 3)

Introduction to Deleuze's Text

Overview of the Text

• The text by Leus Burt Levitch is dense, philosophical, and has a specific rhetorical style similar to other academic texts.

• The program includes various types of writing, some more complex and others more straightforward, providing a broad overview of different writing styles.

Reading Approach

• Students are encouraged not to be intimidated by complex texts; understanding may not come easily at first.

• The text does not aim for an orderly scientific explanation but rather opens up problems for discussion.

Importance of Class Discussions

Engaging with Complex Texts

• The instructor emphasizes the importance of class discussions in breaking down complicated texts into manageable parts.

• Students should transform challenging readings into useful tools for their own analyses.

Evaluation Criteria

• Evaluations will focus on students' ability to engage with reading materials rather than memorizing concepts verbatim.

• Students can use their annotations and highlights from readings as part of their evaluation process.

Methodological Focus

Developing Analytical Skills

• Emphasis is placed on methodological skills: selecting relevant texts and framing them within theoretical contexts.

• Students should demonstrate competence in using texts as analytical tools rather than attempting comprehensive coverage.

Progression Through Academic Levels

• As students advance in their studies, they will need to apply these skills on larger scales (e.g., monographs or theses).

Analyzing Literary Criticism

Deleuze's Perspective on Philosophy and Literature

• Deleuze constructs his critical object by defining problems in his own terms while analyzing literary works.

• He posits that philosophy involves inventing concepts, distinguishing it from literature which creates abstract representations.

Differences Between Literary Criticism and Philosophy

• Literary criticism operates based on existing literary texts rather than the broader world context that philosophy engages with.

Analysis of Ideological Positions in Literature

The Role of Ideology in Literary Critique

• Discussion on how ideological positions create tension within power dynamics, emphasizing the importance of a critical perspective in literary studies.

• Acknowledgment that different professors may present literary texts from various perspectives, allowing for rich discussions among students with diverse theoretical backgrounds.

Linguistic Analysis as a Foundation

• Introduction to Deleuze's text through linguistic analysis, aiming to deconstruct its structure and layers.

• Importance of linguistic analysis highlighted as essential for understanding literature, noting that language is the raw material of literature.

The Complexity of Language and Meaning

• Examination of Melville's "Bartleby," focusing on the phrase "I would prefer not to," which operates at a linguistic boundary between affirmation and negation.

• Exploration of how this phrase embodies a strong negative connotation without being outrightly negative or affirmative, illustrating its complex role in language.

Deleuze’s Approach to Literary Characters

• Consideration of whether characters like Bartleby can be analyzed from a modern literary perspective, setting up further discussion on Deleuze's theories.

• Plan to engage with Deleuze’s ideas using previously established theoretical frameworks discussed in earlier classes.

Levels of Linguistic Significance

• Initial focus on analyzing linguistic dimensions as part of understanding literature.

• Clarification that every word or sentence consists of meaning (significado) and signifier (significante), crucial for deeper literary analysis.

Interplay Between Form and Meaning

• Emphasis on how non-standard grammatical forms impact meaning; exploring Melville's manipulation of language structure.

• Noting the significance of Jacobson’s concept regarding poetic function, suggesting that structural choices convey additional meanings beyond surface semantics.

The Conceptual Framework for Literary Analysis

• Encouragement for students to connect themes across units, particularly relating Jacobson’s poetic function to Melville’s narrative techniques.

• Discussion about how specific word choices and their arrangement contribute significantly to deeper meanings within texts.

Limits Within Language Structures

• Reference to Deleuze discussing grammatical constructions acting as limits within language; these constructs straddle correctness and incorrectness.

Analysis of Language and Alienation

The Role of Language in Political Power and Literature

• Discussion on the influence of political power on language, highlighting a disconnect between formal language (as defined by institutions like RAE) and everyday speech.

• Reference to Leo's analysis regarding value formulas, emphasizing how normal constructions can feel abnormal, particularly in translation contexts.

• Examination of Melville's impact on English readers through unusual linguistic structures that challenge their expectations and perceptions of language.

Estrangement Through Language

• Exploration of how rare linguistic formulas prompt readers to notice language itself, drawing parallels with Russian formalism's concept of "defamiliarization."

• Assertion that literature allows individuals to perceive words anew, breaking through alienation by presenting familiar concepts in unfamiliar ways.

Linguistic Dimensions and Challenges

• Acknowledgment of the complexity involved in discussing linguistic dimensions within Deleuze’s framework; the speaker expresses a desire for clarity despite the challenging nature of the text.