Introduction

Thinking culture dialogically

Finn Bostad

Craig Brandist

University of Sheffield

Lars Evensen

Faber

pp. 1-19

in: Finn Bostad, Craig Brandist, Lars Evensen, Faber (eds), Bakhtinian perspectives on language and culture, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004

Abstract

Why is the Bakhtin Circle still relevant, in our contemporary cultural situation as researchers, artists or interested readers? One answer could spring from the need to discuss essentialism in the theory of culture critically. Two main concepts of culture implied by Bakhtin's Simmelian epithet (Simmel 1997), above, are: first, one that we may call essentialist. This concept has ancient roots in the Western history of philosophy, but no longer feels comfortable; yet, we are still struggling with it. We also have Bakhtin's implied alternative, what may be termed a dialogical concept of culture.

Cited authors

Bachtin Michajl