Description
Book SynopsisIn Studies in Ideology, poet and theorist J.M. Beach delivers a comprehensive analysis of the history and theory of ideology. The narrow concept of ideology has traditionally been lodged in the domain of Marxist political theory, but Beach reaches past Marxism to focus on the wide definition of ideology, which can be basically summarized as all theory is ideological. Beach strays from the Marxist totalizing and determinist narratives to deliver a discussion of ideology as process, which takes its lead from Gramsci and analyzes the intricate and complicated mechanisms of individual subject formation in relation to dominant/dominating social modes of meaning productions. Beach offers his theory of ideology in conjunction with an extensive reading of history and contemporary affairs and ends the book with a brief biographical sketch of his own intellectual maturation, which is imbedded within a daring and timely critique of Christianity.
Trade Review[J.M. Beach] is brilliant, possibly the most brilliant undergraduate and master's student whom I have taught in thirty years of teaching. His intellect is a rare combination of analytical attention to detail along with a remarkable synthetic ability and a passion for 'the big picture.' His interests and competency range over a wide intellectual landscape…His capacity for independent work is remarkable…To say the obvious, his brilliance is accompanied by exceptional efficiency, extraordinary energy, and disciplined industry. -- Dr. Marcus J. Borg, Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture, Oregon State University
I've read [the book] and liked it and learned a lot. -- Dr. Robert Nye, Thomas Hart and Mary Jones Horning Professor of the Humanities and Professor of History, Oregon State University
An impressive piece of work…[Beach] shows a good deal of promise. -- Dr. Terry Eagleton, Professor of English and American Studies, the University of Manchester
Ambitious! -- Dr. Michael Hardt, Professor of Literature and Romance Studies, Duke University
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface: The Human Condition Chapter 2 Introduction: Ideas, Do They Matter? Ideology, Does it Exist? So What? Chapter 3 Part I: One Does Not Live by Bread Alone: Introduction; Ideology as Process Chapter 4 Part II: Ideology, Reality, and Rhetoric: Kenneth Burke's Dramatism: Introduction; Conclusion: A Burkean Ethic Chapter 5 Part III: Literature and Ideology: Introduction: The Fundamentalist Threat and the Power of Ideology; Conclusion: Finding an Ideology that Fits the Facts Chapter 6 Part IV: A Critique of Christianity: Introduction: Why I Became an Atheist Chapter 7 Appendix A: Selected Popular Culture Resources for Pedagogical Approaches to Ideology Chapter 8 Appendix B: Selected Popular Culture Themes for Classroom Study Chapter 9 Select Bibliography Chapter 10 Selected Index Chapter 11 Author Biography
