Althusser - Competing Interpellations and the Third Text
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Althusser: Competing Interpellations and the Third Text
Introduction
Aside from Nietzsche, few have contributed as profoundly to human understanding as Louis Althusser, a thinker recalled in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as a notable teacher. For two pivotal decades?"the 60s and 70s?"Althusser was at the heart of cultural discourse, shaping many of its storms. Given his current obscurity, a review of his work, along with some proposed refinements, is warranted.
Althusser’s Philosophy
Society as a System of Practices
Althusser viewed society as composed of three interlinked practices: economic, political, and ideological. He defined a practice as:
> "Any process of transformation of a determinate product, affected by a determinate human labour, using determinate means (of production)."
The economic practice involves turning raw materials into finished goods through organized labor. Political practice transforms social relations, while ideological practice reshapes how individuals understand their existence.
This framework rejects traditional Marxist notions of rigid base-superstructure relationships and challenges Hegelian "social totality." Instead, it offers a dynamic model where the superstructure is "relatively autonomous," with ideology playing a central role.
Ideology and Interpellation
1. Ideology’s Function: Ideology helps individuals navigate existence, providing seemingly accurate answers to real problems. It presents both the harsh reality and the way it is represented to oneself and others.
2. The Role of Questions: To remain potent, ideology addresses only answerable questions, existing in a legendary, contradiction-free realm while disregarding other inquiries.
3. The Problematic: This concept defines the internal logic that commands which questions are posed and which are ignored within a text or practice.
4. Scientific Discourse: Althusserian critique involves "symptomatic reading"?"interpreting manifest texts against latent, hidden texts revealed by their gaps and absences.
5. Material and Lived Dimensions: Ideology manifests in rituals, behaviors, and systems (e.g., religion, education) that construct individuals as subjects through "hailing" or "interpellation."
Critiques and Considerations
Althusser's view suggested that ideologies are infallible in reproducing subjects aligned with dominant production modes, an assertion marred by dogmatism. Important questions remain unanswered:
- Ideology’s Pursuits: What are the ultimate goals of ideologies?
- Pluralistic Competition: How do ideologies function in environments rich with competition?
The Third Text and Competing Interpellations
Althusser proposes dual texts?"manifest and latent?"but does not specify how to extract the "correct" latent text. This requires a "Third Text," a comprehensive reference embodying all possible texts. It serves as a comparison standard, much like DNA or computational algorithms operating within defined parameters.
Interpellation in the Modern Age
Every reader engages in text deconstruction naturally, by comparing encountered content with their personal "Third Text," thus perceiving latent meaning. This process affects how interpellations succeed or fail, as subjects navigate a landscape of competing ideological calls.
Interpellations and Power
The core drive behind interpellation is power?"the ability to influence and command. Ideologies, whether driven by economic, religious, or political motives, seek to exert this influence. Ultimately, the drive to interpellate underpins the perpetuation of ideological practices.
Conclusion
Althusser’s exploration of ideology and interpellation offers profound insights but is limited by its cyclic assumptions and somewhat static view of ideologies. By considering the Third Text and the competitive nature of interpellations, a more nuanced understanding emerges, recognizing the dynamic interplay of power, ideology, and individual agency in shaping human experience.
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