The Use of Abuse
The Polemics of the Dreyfus Affair and Its Aftermath
1st Edition
Published on 1. January 1992
Book
Hardback
222 pages
978-0-85496-626-4 (ISBN)
Description
In this book, which closely examines the techniques used by the polemists of the Dreyfus Affair, much is learned not only about the Mair itself, but also about the polemic of the age in which it was situated, and the interaction between writers and their public. The discourse within which people's thoughts were imprisoned is seen not merely to have reflected events, but to have created them, in an increasingly vicious circle whereby the language of popular abuse, incorporated into the written polemic of the Press, produced simple but distorted ideas which in turn were fed back into the people. The age's complete lack of concern for the libel laws led to particularly vivid examples of the art. We are shown how authors' shifts in vocabulary, and in stylistic techniques, unconsciously signal to us fundamental changes in their aims; and how, in the give-and-take of battle, words and concepts subtly changed their meaning, with certain abstract notions such as Truth and Justice becoming completely devalued.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
416 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-85496-626-4 (9780854966264)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
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03/2021
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E-Book
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E-Book
01/2021
1st Edition
Routledge
€53.99
Available for download
Person
Richard Griffiths
Content
Part I: Introductory, 1 Polemic and the Affair, The Issues behind the Polemic, Polemic and the Affair - A Chronology, 2 Truth and Justice, The Devaluation, The Philosophical Debate, Weapons of Attack, Cartoons and Visual Polemic, The Aftermath, Part II: Methods, 3 Plot Myths and Assertions of Certainty, Language and Imagery, Formulae of Certainty, A Further Aspect of the 'Plot' Myth: The 'Syndicat de Trahison', 4 Formulae of Popular Polemic, Metonymy, Dirt and Cleansing Repetition and 'Homeric' Epithets in Personal Abuse, Word Formulations: The Suffix '-ard' , Other Pejorative Formations and Phrases, 'L'Armee de Conde' and Other War-cries, 5 Techniques of Irony, Mockery of the Slogans of the Affair, Gohier and 'le parti de I'etranger' 'La Revanche', Rochefort and 'le sabre et le goupillon', 6 Religious Imagery: The Power of Catholic Discourse, 7 Attitudes to Personal Abuse, Violence and Vileness, A Libel: Zola the Thief's Son, A Libel: Drumont the Police Spy, A Libel: Clemenceau the British Agent Private and Public Attitudes: The Case of Barres, Part III: Three Individuals, 8 Zola, The Affair: The Three Figaro Articles, 'Lettre alajeunesse', 'Lettre ala France' , ']'accuse', The Aftermath, 9 Leon Bloy and the Cliches of the Affair, The Affair as Sign, Scatology and Eschatology, The Unknown Visitor, 10 Peguy's Attacks onJaures, The Natural Tone, and Complicity, The Attacks onjaures: 'L'Argent' and 'L'Argent, Litanies and Repetition with the Reader, The Attacks on Jaures: 'Notre jeunesse' (1910) suite' (1913)