Bakhtin’s Theory of Speech Genres and the Addressivity in Cultural Pragmatics of Genres in Literature: “Genus” vs. “Genre”
Bakhtin’s Theory of Speech Genres and the Addressivity in Cultural Pragmatics of Genres in Literature: “Genus” vs. “Genre”

Summary/Abstract: This paper suggests a new approach to literary genres and modes via the addressivity of texts and performances, which takes it starting point from Bakhtin’s concept of speech genres. First it deals with Bakhtin’s publi¬cations on literary genres, which are interpreted differently by literary theoreticians and critics, and the problematic status of his texts on speech genres, which were not prepared for publication by the author. It then takes Jan-Luc Nancy’s concept of addressing – with its components of “speed”, “accuracy”, “touch” and “retreat” – into account, and applies them to the modelling of literary genres and modes. The final part of the paper shows how the addressivity of genres and modes relates to the selected hybrid texts from Russian and Croatian literature, i.e. to Daniil Kharms’ “Failed Performance”, Dmitrii Prigov’s Stichograms, Gennadii Aigi’s “Without Title” and Ranko Marinković’s “Hands”.

• Details
• Contents