Marc Redfield Livres

Exploring the intersection of language and identity, this work delves into the politics surrounding border crossings through a lens that spans from biblical texts to modern art. It examines how linguistic expressions shape and challenge the concept of belonging, revealing the complexities of identity in a globalized world. The book offers insights into the performative aspects of language and their implications for personal and collective narratives in the context of migration and cultural boundaries.

The enduring influence of Paul de Man on American academia is explored, highlighting his association with "deconstruction" and its unsettling impact on scholarly practices. Despite attempts to dismiss his legacy, de Man's ideas continue to provoke and challenge critical theory, revealing a persistent engagement with his work. His name evokes a sense of excitement and complexity, representing a theoretical approach that defies straightforward interpretation and remains a significant force in contemporary discourse.

. Phantom Formations addresses the problem of the Bildungsroman through a rigorous examination of aesthetic ideology which explains the hysteria provoked by literary theory, clarifies the link between aestheticism and technologism, and questions the aesthetic presuppositions of the pragmatist and neo-professionalist ideologies of the modern bureaucratic university.

This book examines the affinity between the notions of theory and deconstruction that developed in the American academy in the 1970s by way of a semi-fictional collective, the Yale Critics: Harold Bloom, Paul de Man, Geoffrey Hartman, and J. Hillis Miller, in association with the French philosopher Jacques Derrida.

Exploring the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the book introduces the concept of "virtual trauma," highlighting how this event has left a profound cultural impact. The author, Marc Redfield, examines how the term "9/11" encapsulates both the trauma of the day and the complex ways it has been represented in various media. Through two interlinked essays, Redfield discusses the self-reflexivity in narratives surrounding 9/11, analyzing its portrayal in films like World Trade Center and United 93, which reflect the tension between reality and mediation.