Dominic wrote:
This "privilege" - of the intellectual, for want of a better category - is
then a kind of fold within the social, the visible, the public, the
legible, the intelligible etc.: not an "other world" entire unto itself (although
consider the Brontes) but an otherness within the world, which has to take
its chances along with the individual (or group of individuals - again,
the Brontes) that provides it with a host. And if that individual's chances
are not good, then neither are the chances of her "private right".
Yes, I think so too, and like the idea of the privilege
of the intellectual as a "kind of fold" or "an otherness
within the world" because, as you note, the private right
is not entirely separable from social realities. My only
comment is that "provides it with a host," which suggests
some kind of parasitic relationship. I guess I would prefer
to think of the relationship here, when it works and grants
that existence to the individual and her "private right,"
as symbiotic. And that's a great quote from Cixous, so true,
particularly when one must choose between buying books
and buying food.
Best,
Rebecca
Rebecca Seiferle
www.thedrunkenboat.com
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