THE POLITICS OF AMNESIA

-- TERRY EAGLETON

Prepared by , Megha Mohan Nair

THEORY Theory is an umbrella term,

encompasses all the literary practice. The literary theory is closely tied to the

history of literature. The principles and methods of literary

theory apply to non-fiction , popular fiction, film ,law etc..

Broad schools of theory includes new criticism, formalism, structuralism , post structuralism , Marxism etc..

TERRY EAGLETON

Terence Francis Terry Eagleton is a prominent British literary theorist, critic, leftist, and intellectual.

Eagleton was born in 1943 in North West England.

During 1960s he become involved with the left-wing catholic group ‘Slant’.

He authored a number of theological articles and a book called towards a new left theory.

MAJOR WORKS Literary Theory : An Introduction

After Theory

Criticism and Ideology

The Ideology of the Aesthetics (1990)

The Gate Keeper (2001) memoir

Sweet Violence (2003)

AFTER THEORY It is the important work of Eagleton. It looks back to the golden age of

cultural theory. And it look forward to the new

challenges faced by contemporary cultural theory.

The Politics Of Amnesia is the beginning chapter of this book.

It is an effort to retune cultural theory to the demands of our social and political situation.

EAGLETON ANALYSES SOME OF THE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES OF POST COLONIALISM AND POST MODERNISM :

I. Critique of Post Colonialism II. Critique of Post Modernism

THE POLITICS OF AMNESIA Eagleton describes the shift that

happened in :

1. Intellectual pursuits2. The trivialization of scholarly matters3. A conspicuous lack of fresh thinking

o Eagleton then reckons the advantages or achievement of cultural theory, they are :

1. Established gender and sexuality2. Establish popular culture3. Demolish the puritan dogma

CRITIQUE OF POST COLONIALISM Eagleton counts post-colonial studies as the

most flourishing sector of cultural studies. Post- colonial studies deals with the dire

condition of a bad conditioned world. Post- colonial studies has been on of the

most precious achievement of cultural theory.

Eagleton finds some faults with the post colonial studies:

1. Lack of historical sense. 2. The absence of memories of collective and

effective political action.3. Shift from politics to culture .

1. LACK OF HISTORICAL SENSE

Eagleton finds that our generation lacks sense of the history of their nation and their politics.

The actual beneficiaries of this amnesia is those in power .

Those in power makes as think that there is no alternative to the present .

“The future would simply be the present infinitely repeated.”

2. THE ABSENCE OF MEMORIES OF COLLECTIVE AND EFFECTIVE POLITICAL ACTION.

The waves of revolutionary nationalism were successful in freeing nations from the grip of colonialism.

These revolutions laid foundation of the socialist world.

But we fail to sustain it . Eagleton reminds us that it is one thing to

make a revolution and sustains it . The new generation lacks the memory of

collective political actions .

3. SHIFT FROM POLITICS TO CULTURE

The third world failed in creating and sustaining socialism.

The middle class elites themselves become the rulers.

The political sovereignty never created an economic self government.

Third worldism gave way to post-colonialism. The young post-colonial theorists were

unable to recall the history of their nation. Post-colonial thought focused on the

cosmopolitan dimensions of a world . Shifted the focus from class and nation to

ethnicity or from politics to culture .

CRITIQUE OF POST MODERNISM

According to Eagleton, post-modernism is the contemporary movement of thought which rejects totalities, universal values, grand historical narratives, solid foundations to human existence and the possibility of objective knowledge.

Eagleton disagrees with some of the concepts and principles of post modernism:

1. Crusade against norms and authority .2. Hostility towards a bourgeois world .3. Problem of inclusiveness.

1. CRUSADE AGAINST NORMS AND AUTHORITY

Post modernists believe that norms are inherently oppressive.

Eagleton thinks that it is a mistake to believe that norms are restrictive.

World without norms would have been a chaotic one.

Eagleton tries to prove that norms are for the well-being of the whole.

Post-modern prejudice against norms is a politically catastrophic one.

2. HOSTILITY TOWARDS A BOURGEOIS WORLD

For Eagleton , modernism was fortunate in having an enemy like classical bourgeois.

But , post-modernism is not. Post-modernism seems to behave as

though the classical bourgeois is alive. They have no belief in absolute

scientific truth.

3. PROBLEM OF INCLUSIVENESS

Post-modernism does not believe in individualism.

It believes in pluralism. Then there arises the problem of

inclusiveness. For Eagleton capitalism is an inclusive

creed. Post-modernism stands with marginal

and minorities. Eagleton’s single ideal size of society is

not possible.

CONCLUSION

The Politics Of Amnesia is a brilliant piece of writing .

It manifests Eagleton’s eloquence and witty repartee.

Playfully analyzing the shifts in the field of epistemology in the realm of cultural studies.

Eagleton chews the cud of nostalgia. And longs for the past golden age of

intellectualism.