从复调到对位法——萨义德对巴赫金理论的扬弃

From Polyphony to Counterpoint: Said's Abrogation and Inheritance of Bakhtin's Theory

复调理论贯穿了20世纪西方文论史,始于巴赫金,由萨义德来谢幕。巴赫金的复调理论是对话性思维,是作者、主人公的对话,侧重作者与作品;萨义德的对位法是联系性思维,是东方与西方的对话,侧重读者和世界:二者在认识论上都基于客体的主体性,二者在方法论上都向文本外部拓展,注重事物间的联系,重视社会分析、历史溯源、同时性共存。但二者在东方观、体系性和破立之道上存在分歧,萨义德的对位法从三方面发展了巴赫金的复调理论:挣脱欧洲中心倾向,放眼东方;打破整体性系统,关注局部;摧毁权威,有虚无主义倾向。

Polyphonic theory had been one of the most popular Western literary theories through out the whole twentieth century. It is originally introduced by Bakhtin, and completed by Edward Said. Bakhtin＇s polyphonic theory is a thinking based on dialogue, which is between the author and the protagonists and focusing on the author and the work itself. For Edward Said, polyphony is based on contact. It is a dialogue between the East and the West, focusing on readers and the world. Both are based epistemologically on subjectivity of the object, and methodologically trying to extend outside of the texts, focusing on connections, paying attention to social-analysis, historical backgrounds and simultaneous coexistence. But the two differ on the concept of the Orient, the extent of systematization, and the way to approve and disapprove. From the following three aspects, Edward Said develops Bakhtin＇s polyphonic theory： to look at the Orient instead of sticking to Euro-centrism; to break integral systems and pay attention to individual parts;as well as to destroy authorities and lean to nihilism.