Description
Book SynopsisIn What We Say, Who We Are: Leopold Senghor, Zora Neale Hurston, and the Philosophy of Language, Parker English explores the commonality between Leopold Senghor''s concept of negritude and Zora Neale Hurston''s view of Negro expression. For English, these two concepts emphasize that a person''s view of herself is above all dictated by the way in which she talks about herself. Focusing on what he identifies as performism, English discusses the presentational/representational and externalistic/internalistic facets of performism as they relate to the ideas of Senghor and Hurston. English ends his work by closely examining Hurston''s Their Eyes Were Watching God in light of his discussion of performism, and draws new, intriguing conclusions about the extent to which Hurston''s main character exemplifies W.E.B. DuBois''s concept of double-consciousness. What We Say, Who We Are will certainly pique the interest of scholars interested in Africana studies, African-American literature, and the philosophy of language.
Trade ReviewA groundbreaking exercise that demonstrates how the philosophy of language, often criticized as a purely ivory tower enterprise, may be applied in a positive manner to everyday life. Parker English helps us to interpolate the maxim, 'I am what I say,' with regard to such diverse areas as race, ethnicity, literature, music, acting, ritual, and friendship in manners that enrich our appreciation of human understanding. -- Barry Hallen, Professor of Philosophy at Morehouse College and Associate in the W. E. B. DuBois Institute for African and African American Res
Table of ContentsChapter 1: Senghor's Discussion of "Negritude" and Hurston's Discussion of "Negro Expression" Chapter 2: Performism: A View Gleaned from Senghor and from Hurston Chapter 3: Performatives and Reflexivity in Light of Hurston's Ethnography and Fiction Chapter 4: Exchanges of Speech Chapter 5: Speech and Senses of Self in Their Eyes Were Watching God Chapter 6: Performism in the World
