Post2 September 2, 2009
“The recognition of the area of shadow in or around the work is the initial moment of criticism.”
I think this is a very important statement by Macherey. It made me think of what criticism is all about and if it is really like a shadow. I mean shadows are dark but they can also be very light. Criticism is the same way; it can be very cold, harsh words that someone is trying to tell you or it can be light and not so dark and scary. I guess it all depends on how you look at the shadow/criticism. Some people cannot take criticism and therefore the shadow would be considered very dark but others can take it and learn from it, they look at it in a positive light and those are the kinds of people that exceed in this world. When someone recognizes that your work needs a little cleaning up and gives you some criticism, it’s like them making a shadow over you/your work. Macherey says he “wants to examine the nature of this shadow: does it denote a true absence, or is it the extension of a half-presence?” what if there was a meaning for the space between the shadow and the work? What would people call it, would it be the other half-presence Macherey is talking about? “Will it be the pillar of an explanation or the pretext for an interpretation?” for me to answer that question I think the shadow would lead people to be interpreted in its own ways to whoever it looking at it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
You do a good job in taking a quote and explaining what it means to you. I like the way you describe the shadow was this fluctuating void of meaning that changes depending on what is being said. Take a look back at your post after class tomorrow and see how your deeper understanding of Macherey changes. Also, you may want to think about how this material relates to the work of DeSaussure from last class as both of these theorists are structuralists.
Smiley Face :)
Also - careful to meet the required 300 minimum words!
:)
Post a Comment